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A    SHORT 
ACCOUNT 

OF      THE 

MALIGNANT     FEVER, 

LATELY  PREVALENT  IN 

PHILADELPHIA: 

WITH  A  STATEMENT  OF  THE 

PROCEEDINGS 

THAT    TOOK     PLACE    ON  THE    SUBJECT   IN   DIFFERENT 
PARTS    OF    THE 

UNITED     STATES. 


BY     MATHEW     CAREY. 


SECOND    EDITION. 

—  J  4 

PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED  BY  THE  AUTHOR* 

Nwember  23,  1793, 


£  > 

0  3L7  5SA 


To  iht  American  Philofophical  Sccicty. 


G  E  N    T   L  £   M  E   N, 


WITH  due  deference,  I  pre- 
fume  to  dedicate  to  you 
the  following  pages,  in  which  I 
have  endeavoured  to  give  as  faith- 
ful an  account  as  poffible,  of  the 
dreadful  calamity  we  havejuft  ex- 
perienced. 

I  am,  gentlemen, 

With  efteem, 

Your  obedt.  humble  fervanr, 

MATHEW  CAREY. 


345757 


Number   XLVII. 

Diftrict  of  Pennfylvania,  to  wit — 

(L.  S.)  T)E  it  remembered,  that  on  the  four- 
jl3  teenth  day  of  November,  in  the  eigh- 
teenth year  of  the  independence  of  the  united  Jiates 
of  America,  Mathew  Carey,  of  the  faid  dijlricl, 
hath  depofited  in  this  office,  the  title  of  a  book,  the 
right  whereof  he  claims  as  author,  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing, to  wit : 

"  A  short  account  of  the  malignant  fever  lately 
Ci  prevalent  in  Philadelphia,  with  a  Jlatement  of  the 
"  proceedings  that  took  place  on  the  fubjeft  in  dif 
"  ferent  parts  of  the  united  Jiates.  By  Mathew 
"  Carey."  In  conformity  to  the  acl  of  the  congrefs  of 
the  united  Jiates,  intitided,  "  An  acl  for  the  encou- 
"  ragement  of  learning ;  by  fe curing  the  copies  of 
"  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  pro- 
"  prietors  of  fuch  copies,  during  the  times  therein 
"  mentioned." 

SAMUEL    CALDWELL,  Clerk  of 

the  dijtricl  of  Pennfylvania. 


WE  FLOWERS  COa:,rn^ 


PREFACE. 


Philadelphia,  Nov.  14,  1793. 

THE  favourable  reception  given  to  the  imper- 
fect account  of  the  fever  which  I  lately  pub- 
limed,  and  the  particular  defire  of  fome  of  my 
friends,  have  induced  me  to  undertake  a  more 
fatisfactory  hiftory  of  it,  in  order  to  collecr, 
together,  while  facts  are  recent,  as  many  of  the 
moft  interefting  occurrences  as  I  could,  for  the 
information  of  the  public. 

I  have  not  attempted  any  embelltfhment  or 
ornament  of  ftile  ;  but  have  alone  aimed  at  tel- 
ling plain  truths  in  plain  language.  I  have  taken 
every  precaution  to  arrive  at  the  truth ;  and 
hope  the  errors  in  the  account,  will  not  be  found 
numerous. 

For  the  defultory  plan  of  fome  part  of  the 


345757 


(     vi     ) 

pamphlet,  I  have  to  offer  the  following  apolo- 
gy ;  many  of  the  circumftances  and  reflexions 
towards  the conclufion,  which  would  have  come 
with  more  propriety  in  the  beginning,  did  not 
occur,  until  fome  of  the  firft  half  meets  were 
not  only  written,  but  printed.  I  had  no  choice, 
therefore,  but  either  to  omit  them,  or  place 
them  fomewhat  out  of  order.  I  preferred  the 
latter. 

Moft  of  the  facts  mentioned  have  fallen  un- 
der my  own  obfervation.  Thofe  of  a  different 
delcription  I  have  been  affiduous  to  collect  from 
every  perfon  of  credibility,  poffeffed  of  infor- 
mation. 

Defirous  of  having  this  account  correct  and 
complete,  I  have  printed  off  but  a  fmall  num- 
ber of  copies  of  the  prefent  edition :  and  fhall 
efteem  myfelf  moft  particularly  obliged  to  any 
perfon  who  will  be  fo  kind  to  point  out  errors, 
to  be  corrected  in,  or  fuggeft  facts,  to  be  added 
to,  a  new  edition,  which  I  propofe  to  put  to  prefs 
very  foon,  and  which  will,  I  hope,  be  found 
ftill  more  ample  than  the  prefent  one. 


{   vii    ) 

November  23,  1793. 

When  I  published  the  firft  edition  of  this  pam- 
phlet, it  was  my  intention  to  have  greatly  en- 
larged it  for  a  fecond  one,  and  to  have  new 
modelled  it,  to  as  to  preferve  a  connexion  be- 
tween its  feveral  parts,  in  whkh  it  is  extremely 
deficient.  But  its  lpeedy  fale,  and  the  demand 
for  more  copies,  renders  it  impofiible  for  me  to 
do  more,  atprefent,  than  make  fuch  corrections 
as  the  kindnefs  of  a  few  friends  has  led  them  to 
point  out. 

In  giving  an  account  of  the  proceedings  that 
took  place  on  the  fubject.  throughout  the  union, 
I  have  fupprefled  many  a  harm,  unkind  com- 
ment, which  was  forcing  itfelf  on  me  ;  From 
the  reflexion,  that  in  fimilar  circumftances  we 
might  perhaps  have  been  equally  fevere.  And 
to  perpetuate  animofities  is  performing  a  very 
unfriendly  office.  They  are  ealily  generated  ; 
but  their  extinction  is  a  work  of  time  and  diffi- 
culty. Let  us,  therefore,  (efpecially  when  we 
;i  hold  the  mirror  up  to  nature"  at  home,)  not 
•only  forgive,  but  even  forget,  if  poflible,  all  the 
unpleafant  treatment  our  citizens  have  experi- 
enced. 


C     viii     ) 

I  have  heard  more  than  one  perfon  object 
to  the  account  of  the  mocking  circumftances 
that  occurred  in  Philadelphia,  as  pourtraying 
the  manners  of  the  people  in  an  unfavourable 
light.  If  that  be  the  cafe,  the  fault  is  not  mine. 
I  am  confcious  I  have  not  exaggerated  the  mat- 
ter. But  I  do  not  conceive  it  can  have  that  effect ; 
for  it  would  be  as  unjuft  and  injudicious  to  draw 
the  character  of  Philadelphia  from  the  conduct 
of  a  period  of  horror  and  affright,  when  all  the 
"  mild  charities  of  focial  life"  were  fuppreued  by 
regard  for  fetf — as  to  ftamp  eternal  infamy  on  a 
nation  for  the  atrocities  perpetrated  in  times  of 
civil  broils,  when  all  the  "  angry  paflions"  are 
roufed  into  dreadful  and  ferocious  activity. 


A    SHORT    A  C  C  O  U  N  T,    &c. 


BEFORE  I  enter  on  the  confideration  of  this 
diforder,  it  may  not  be  improper  to  offer 
a  few  introductory  remarks  on  the  fituation  of 
Philadelphia  previous  to  its  commencement, 
which  will  reflect  light  on  fome  of  the  circum- 
ftances  mentioned  in  the  courfe  of  the  narra- 
tive. 

The  manufactures,  trade,  and  commerce  of 
Philadelphia  had,  for  a  confiderable  time,  been 
improving  and  extending  with  great  rapidity. 
From  the  period  of  the  adoption  of  the  federal 
government,  at  which  time  we  were  at  the  low- 
eft  ebb  of  diftrefs,  our  iituation  had  progref- 
fively  become  more  and  more  profperqus.  Con- 
fidence, formerly  banifhed,  was  univerfally.  re- 
itored.  Property  of  every  kind,  rofe  to,  and  in 

B 


(      io      ) 

fome  inftances  beyond,  its  real  value :  and  a 
few  revolving  years  exhibited  the  interefting 
fpectacle  of  a  young  country,  with  a  new  form 
of  government,  emerging  from  a  flat e  approach- 
ing very  near  to  anarchy,  and  acquiring  all  the 
liability  and  nerve  of  the  befl-toned  and  oldeft 
nations. 

In  this  profperity,  which  revived  the  hopes  of 
four  millions  of  people,  Philadelphia  participa- 
ted in  an  eminent  degree.  New  houfes,  in  al- 
mofl  every  ftreet,  built  in  a  very  neat,  elegant 
flile,  adorned,  at  the  fame  time  that  they  en- 
larged the  city.  Its  population  was  extending 
feft.  Houfe  rent  had  rifen  to  a  moll  extravagant 
height ;  it  was  in  many  cafes  double,  and  in 
fome  treble  what  it  had  been  a  year  or  two  be- 
fore ;  and,  as  is  generally  the  cafe,  when  a  city 
is  thriving,  it  went  far  beyond  the  real  increafe 
of  trade.  The  number  of  applicants  for  houfes, 
exceeding  the  number  of  houfes  to  be  let,  one 
bid  over  another;  and  affairs  were  in  fuch  a  fitua- 
tion,  that  many  people,  though  they  had  a  tole- 
rable run  of  bufmefs,  could  hardly  do  more  than 
clear  their  rents,  and  were,  literally,  toiling  for 


(  »  ) 

their  landlords  alone*.  Luxury,  theufual,  and 
perhaps  inevitable  concomitant  of  profperity, 
was  gaining  ground  in  a  manner  very  alarming 
to  thofe  who  confidered  how  far  the  virtue,  the 
liberty,  and  the  happinefs  of  a  nation  depend  on 
their  temperance  and  fobcr  manners.  Men  had 
been  for  fome  time  in  the  habit  of  regulating 
their  expenfes  by  profpects  formed  in  fanguine 
hours,  when  every  probability  was  caught  at  as 
a  certainty,  not  by  their  actual  profits,  or  in- 
come. The  number  of  coaches,  coachees,  chairs, 
&c.  lately  fet  up  by  men  in  the  middle  rank  of 
life,  is  hardly  credible.  And  although  there  had 
been  a  very  great  increafc  of  hackney  chairs,  yet 
it  was  hardly  ever  pofliblc  to  procure  one  on  a 
Sunday,  unlefs  it  was  engaged  two  or  three 
days  before.  Extravagance,  in  various  fhapes, 
was  gradually  eradicating  the  plain  and  whole- 
fome  habits  of  the  city.  And  although  it  were 
prefumption  to  attempt  to  fcan  the  decrees  of 
heaven,  yet  few,  I  believe,  will  pretend  to  d : 

NOTE. 

*  The  diftreis  arifing  from  this  fource,  was  perhaps  the 
only  exception  to  the  general  obfeVvation  of  the  flourifti- 
iug  fituation  of  Philadelphia. 


(       M      ) 

th.it  fomething  was  wanting  to  humble  the 
pride  of  a  city,  which  was  running  on  in  full  ca- 
reer, to  the  goal  of  prodigality  and  diffipation. 

However,  from  November  1792,  to  the  end 
of  laft  June,  the  difficulties  of  Philadelphia  were 
extreme.  The  eftablifhment  of  the  bank  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  embryo  for  the  molt  part  of  that 
time,  had  arretted  in  the  two  other  banks  fuch 
a  quantity  of  the  circulating  fpecie,  as  embaraf- 
fed  almoft  every  kind  of  bufinefs  ;  to  this  was 
added  the  diftrefs  ariiing  from  the  very  nume- 
rous failures  in  England,  which  had  extremely 
harraffed  feveral  of  our  capital  merchants.  Dur- 
iug  this  period,  many  men  experienced  as  great 
difficulties  as  were  ever  known  in  this  city§. 
But  the  opening,  in  July,  of  the  bank  of  Penn- 
fylvania,  conducted  on  the  moft  liberal  princi- 
ples, placed  bufinefs   on  its  former  favourable 

NOTE. 

'  It  is  with  great  pleafure,  I  embrace  this  opportunity 
of  declaring,  that  the  very  liberal  conduct  of  the  bank 
of  the  united  ftates,  at  this  trying  feafbn,  was  the  means 
of  raving  many  a  deferving  and  indulhious  man  froa) 
ruin. 


(     '3    ) 

footing.  Every  man  looked  forward  to  this  fall 
as  likely  to  produce  a  vaft  extenfion  of  trade, 
But  how  fleeting  are  all  humnn  views !  how  un- 
certain all  plans  founded  on  earthly  appearan- 
ces !  All  thefe  flattering  profpects  vanifhed  like 
the  bafelefs  fabric  of  a  vilion. 

In  July,  arrived  the  unfortunate  fugitives 
from  Cape  Francois.  And  on  this  occafion,  the 
liberality  of  Philadelphia  was  difplayed  in  a  moft 
refpecbibie  point  of  light.  Nearly  12,000  dol- 
lars were  in  a  few  days  collected  for  their  relief. 
Little,  alas!  did  many  of  the  contributors,  then 
in  eafy  circumftances,  imagine,  that  a  few  weeks 
would  leave  their  wives  and  children  dependent 
on  public  charity,  as  has  fince  unfortunate- 
ly happened.  An  awful  inftance  of  the  rapid 
and  warning  viciflitudes  of  affairs  on  this  tran- 
fitory  ftage, 

At  this  time,  the  deftroying  fcourge  crept  in 
among  us,  and  nipped  in  the  bud  the  faired: 
bloffoms  that  imagination  could  form.  And, 
©h !  what  a  dreadful  contraft  has  fince  taken 
place  !  Many  of  our  firft  commercial  houfes  are 
duTolved,  by  the  death  of  the  parlies, 


(    h   ) 

and  their  affairs  are  neceflarily  left  in  fo  derang- 
ed a  ftate  that  the  lofies  and  diftrefTes  which 
tfraft  take  place,  are  beyond  eftimation.  The 
protefts  of  notes  for  a  few  weeks  paft,  have 
been  beyond  all  former  example  ;  for  a  great  pro- 
portion of  the  principal  merchants  having  left 
the  city,  and  been  totally  unable,  from  the  ftag- 
nation  of  bufmefs,  and  diverhon  of  all  their  ex- 
pected refourccs,  to  make  any  provilion  for  pay- 
ment, moft  of  their  notes  have  been  protefted, 
as  they  became  due.  The  bank  of  the  united 
ftates,  on  the  1 5th  of  October,  paffed  a  rcfolve, 
empowering  their  cafliier  to  renew  all  difcount- 
ed  notes,  when  the  fame  drawers  and  indorfers 
were  offered,  and  declaring  that  no  notes  fhould 
be  protefted,  when  the  indorfers  bound  them- 
felves  in  writing,  to  be  accountable  in  the  fame 
manner  as  in  cafes  of  proteit. 

Befides  what  we  have  already  fuffered,  we 
are  menaced  with  another  evil,  which  proba- 
bly at  any  other  period,  would  not  very  mate- 
rially injure  the  city  ;  but  if  it  comes  in  addition 
to  our  prefent  diftrefs,  will  operate  againft  us  a 
verv  Ions:  time.  I  mean  the  removal  of  consrefs. 
The  meeting  of  this  bodv  is  fixed  for   the   firft 


(  IJ  ) 

Monday  in  December  ;  and  it  is  not  improba- 
ble that  attempts  will  be  made  to  prevent  their 
next  feffion  being  held  here.  Appeals  will  be 
made  to  their  fears.  Already  the  New  York  pa^ 
pers  announce,  "  that  as  congrefs  cannot  meet, 
"  agreeably  to  their  adjournment,  with  any 
"  probability  of  fafety  in  Philadelphia,  under  its 
"  prefent  calamitous  vilitation,  there  can  be  no 
"  doubt  of  their  adjourning  to  lit  in  New  York, 
"  where  the  air  is  perfectly  falubrious,  the 
"  markets  plentiful,  and  every  conveniency 
"  ready  for  their  accommodation*.'*  If,  at  the 
time  of  their  meeting,  any  trace  of  the  diforder 
remains,  the  Philadelphians  will  not  urge  their 
flay  here.  But  if  it  be,  as  there  is  every 
probability,  abfolutely  extinguifhed,  we  place 
too  much  reliance  on  their  juftice  to  fufpecl  that 
they  will  add  to  the  ftroke  we  have  felt. 

For  thefe  prefatory  obfervations  I  hope  I  mail 
be  pardoned.  I  now  proceed  to  the  melancholy 
fubjecl  I  have  undertaken. 

NOTE. 
*  Columbian  Gazetteer;  Odober  17,  179^- 


I  «  ) 

The  malignant  fever,  which  has  committed 
fuch  ravages  in  Philadelphia,  made  its  appear- 
ance here,  about  the  end  of  July.  Dr.  Hodge's 
Child,  probably  the  firft  victim,  was  taken  ill  on 
the  26th  or  27th  of  July,  and  died  on  the  6th  or 
7th  of  Auguft.  A  Mr.  Moore*,  in  Mr.  Denny's 
lodging  houfe,  in  Water  ftreet,  was  feized  on 
Friday,  the  2d  of  Auguft,  and  died  on  Sunday, 
the  fourth.  Mrs.  Parkinfon,  who  lodged  in 
the  fame  houfe,  caught  the  diforder,  on  the  3d 
of  Auguft,  and  died  on  the  7th. 

On  the  origin  of  the  diforder,  there  prevails 
a  very  great  diverfity  of  opinion.  Dr.  Hutchin- 
fon  maintained  that  it  was  not  imported,  and 
ftated,  in  a  letter  which  he  wrote  on  the  fub- 
je£t  to  Captain  Falconer,  the  health  officer  of  the 
port  of  Philadelphia,  that  "  the  general  opinion 
"  was,  that  the  diforder  originated  fromfome 
*  damaged  coffee,  or  other  putrified  vegeta- 
"  ble  and  animal  matters.*'   To  this  opinion, 

NOTE. 

*  This  man  had  been  walking  along  the  wharves, 
where  the  coffee  lay,  and  at  which  the  Sans  Culottes 
was  moored,  in  the  morning  ;  and  on  his  return  home, 
was  To  extremely  ill,  as  to  he  obliged  to  go  to  bed,  from 
which  he  never  role  again. 


(     '7    ) 

though  he  did  not  give  it  abfolutely  as  his  own, 
he  feemed  ftrongly  to  incline  ;  and  mentioned, 
that  at  a  wharf,  a  little  above  Arch-ftreet, 
there  was  not  only  a  quantity  of  damaged  cof- 
fee*, extremely  ofFenfive,  but  alfo  fome  putrid 
animal  and  vegetable  fubftances.  The  doctor 
refted  his  opinion,  that  the  diforder  was  not 
imported,  on  two  circumftances,  which  prove 
to  be  miftaken,  viz.  that  no  foreigners  or  failors 
were  infected  on  the  27th  of  Auguft,  the  time 
of  writing,  and  that  it  had  not  been  found  in 
lodging  houfes.  This  opinion  was  fo  far  from 
being  juft,  that  the  fecond  place  in  which  it  is 
known  to  have  made  its  appearance,  was  a  lodg- 
ing houfe,  and  fome  of  the  earlieft  patients 
were  French  lads, 

Dr.  Rufh  is  of  the  fame  opinion  with  dr.  Hut- 
chinfon,  and  fays  he  has  in  his  poffeffion  fufficient 
documents  to  prove  that  the  diforder  is  not  an 
imported  one,  but  of  native  growth.  As  he  has 

NOTE. 

*  The  ftench  of  this  coffee  was  fo  exceffively  ofFenfive, 
that!  t-he  people  in  the  neighboarhood  could  hardly  bear 
to  remam  in  the  back  part  of  their  houfes. 

G 


(     i8     ) 

not  yet  communicated  his  proofs  to  the  public, 
it  is  impoflible  to  decide  on  them. 

That  it  is  an  imported  diforder,  "is  the  opini- 
on ofalmoft  all  the  inhabitants  of  Philadelphia. 
However,  there  is  much  diverfity  of  fentiment, 
as  to  the  time  and  manner  of  its  introduction. 
I  fhall  ftate  fome  of  the  various  reports  current, 
and  let  the  reader  judge  for  himfelf. 

Some  affert,  that  it  was  brought  by  II  Cor- 
ftante,  capt.  Fifcovifch,  which  arrived  here  from 
Ragufa,  after  having  touched  at  Mar tinico,  about 
the  beginning  of  May.  This  is  very  unlikely, 
as  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  where  me  lay,  was 
free  until  the  diforder  fpread  there  from  the  up- 
per part. 

Another  opinion  is,  that  it  was  introduced  by 
the  Mary,  captain  Rufh,  which  arrived  here 
on  the  7th  of  Auguft,  with  fome  of  the  French 
emigrants  from  the  cape.  But  the  exiftence  of 
the  diforder  previous  to  her  arrival,  fets  afide 
this  opinion  at  once. 

Others  again  fay  that  a  vefTel  from  Tobago, 


(     >9     ) 

which  arrived  here  in  July,  loft  nearly  all  her 
hands  with  a  malignant  fever.  In  the  river,  me 
mipped  frefti  hands,  many  of  whom  died.  From 
her  they  believe  the  diforder  fpread.  With  re- 
fpect  to  this  report,  I  cannot  aver  any  thing. 

Another  opinion  is,  that  the  privateer 
Sans  Culottes  Marfeillois,  with  her  prize,  the 
Flora,  which  arrived  here  the  2  2d  of  July,  intro- 
duced the  fever. The  privateer  was  in  a  foul,  dirty 
condition — her  hold  very  fmall — and  perhaps  as 
ill  calculated  for  the  accommodation  of  the  great 
number  of  people  that  were  on  board,  as  any 
veffel  that  ever  croffed  the  ocean.  All  her  filth  was 
emptied  at  a  wharf  between  Arch  and  Race-ftreet. 
A  dead  body,  covered  with  canvafs,  lay  on  board 
the  Flora,  for  fome  time,  and  was  feen  by  mr. 
Lemaigre  and  other  gentlemen*. 

Before  I  difmifs  this  part  of  the  fubject,  it 

*  Mr.  Vanuxem*has  publifhed  a  lengthy  ftatement  to 
prove  that  the  diforder  was  not  brought  here  by  either  of 
thefe  veflels.  Dr.  Currie  and  Dr.  Cathrall,  who  have  ta- 
ken great  pains  to  elucidate  the  fubject,  affert  there  were 
fundry  fick  people  on  board,  in  oppofition  to  mr.  Vanux- 
em's  declaration.  To  their  refpeetive  publications  I  beg 
leave  to  refer  the    reader. 


(   *•  ; 

may  not  be  amifs  to  mention,  that  many  believe 
We  have  had  two  diforders  in  the  city,  introdu- 
ced about  the  fame  time,  the  yellow  fever,  from 
the  Weft  Indies,  and  a  fpecies  of  peftilence  from 
Marfeilles. 

The  mortality  began  about  that  part  of  Water- 
ftreet,  where  the  Mary,  the  Flora,  and  the  Sans 
Culottes  lay.  Forfome  time  it  was  entirely  confin- 
ed to  that  place  and  its  neighbourhood.  Almoft 
every  death  which  occurred  in  the  early  ftage  of 
the  diforder  could  be  without  difficulty  traced  to 
that  ftreet.  By  degrees,  it  fpread,  owing  to 
the  want  of  precaution,  and  to  communication 
with  the  infected.  It  is  faid,  and  generally  be- 
lieved, that  the  beds  and  bedding  of  thofe  wh© 
died  of  the  diforder,  at  fir  ft,  before  the  alarm 
went  abroad,  were  fold,  and  fpread  it  among  the 
buyers. 

Several  perfons  were  fwept  away  before  any 
great  alarm  was  excited.  The  firft  deaths  that 
attracted  public  notice,  and  ftruck  terror  among 
the  citizens,  were  thofe  of  Peter  Afton,  On  the 
19th,  of  Mrs.  Lemaigre,  on  the  20th,  and  of 
Thomas  Miller,  on  the  25th  of  Auguft.  About 
this  time  began  the  removals  from  the  city, 
which  were  for  fome  weeks  fo  general,  that  ak 


(  «I  ) 

moft  every  hour  in  the  day,  carts,  waggons, 
coachees,  and  chairs,  were  to  be  feen  tranfport- 
ing  families  and  furniture  to  the  country  in 
every  direction.  Bufinefs  then  became  extreme- 
ly dull.  Mechanics  and  artifts  were  unemployed  ; 
and  the  ftreets  wore  the  appearance  of  gloom 
and  melancholy. 

The  firft  official  notice  taken  of  the  diforder, 
was  on  the  2  2d  of  Auguft,  on  which  day,  the 
mayor  of  Philadelphia,  Matthew  Clarkfon,  efq. 
wrote  to  the  city  commiffioners,  and  after  ac- 
quainting them  with  the  ftate  of  the  city,  gave 
them  the  moft  peremptory  orders,  to  have 
the  ftreets  properly  cleanfed  and  purified 
by  the  fcavengers,  and  all  the  filth  immedi- 
ately hawled  away.  Thefe  orders  were  re- 
peated on  the  27th,  and  fimilar  ones  given  to 
the  clerks  of  the  market.  The  29th  the  gover- 
nor of  the  ftate,  in  his  addrefs  to  the  legiflature, 
acquainted  them,  that  a  contagious  diforder 
exifted  in  the  city  ;  and  that  he  had  taken  every 
proper  meafure  to  afcertain  the  origin,  nature, 
and  extent  of  it.  He  likewife  allured  them  that 
the  health  *  Officer  and  phyfician  of  the  port, 
would  take  every  precaution  to  allay  and  re- 
move the  pubHc  inquietude. 


(       22       ) 

The  26th  of  the  fame  month,  the  college  of 
phyficians  had  a  meeting,  at  which  they  took 
into  confideration  the  nature  of  the  diforder, 
and  the  means  of  prevention  and  of  cure. 
They  publifhed  an  addrefs  to  the  citizens,  fign- 
ed  by  the  prelident  and  fecretary,  recommend- 
ing to  avoid  all  unneceffary  intercourfe  with  the 
infected  ;  to  place  marks  on  the  doors  or  win- 
dows where  they  were  ;  to  pay  great  attention 
to  cleanlinefs  and  airing  the  rooms  of  the  lick  ; 
to  provide  a  large  and  airy  hofpital  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  city  for  their  reception  ; 
to  put  a  flop  to  the  tolling  of  the  bells  ;  to  bury 
thofe  who  died  of  the  diforder  in  carriages  and 
2-3  privately  as  poflible ;  to  keep  the  ftreets  and 
wharves  clean  ;  to  avoid  all  fatigue  of  body  and 
mind,  and  {landing  or  fitting  in  the  fun,  or  in 
the  open  air  ;  to  accommodate  the  drefs  to  the 
weather,  and  to  exceed  rather  in  warm  than 
in  cool  clothing  ;  and  to  avoid  intemperance, 
but  to  ufe  fermented  liquors,  fuch  as  wine,  beer, 
and  cider,  with  moderation.  They  likewife  de- 
clared their  opinion,  that  fires  in  the  ftreets 
were  very  dangerous,  if  not  ineffectual  means 
of  Hopping  the  progrefs  of  the  fever,  and  that 
they  placed  more  dependence  on  the  burning  of 


(     23     ) 

gunpowder.  The  benefits  of  vinegar  and  cam- 
phor, they  added,  were  confined  chiefly  to  in- 
fected rooms  ;  and  they  could  not  be  too  often 
ufed  on  handkerchiefs,  or  in  fmelling  bottles, 
by  perfons  who  attended  the  lick. 

In  confequence  of  this  addrefs,  the  bells  were 
immediately  flopped  from  tolling.  This  was  a 
very  expedient  meafure  ;  as  they  had  before 
been  kept  pretty  conftantly  going  the  whole 
day,  fo  as  to  terrify  thofe  in  health,  and  drive 
the  lick,  as  far  as  the  influence  of  imagination 
could  produce  that  effect,  to  their  graves.  An 
idea  had  gone  abroad,  that  the  burning  of  fires 
in  the  ftreets,  would  have  a  tendency  to  purify 
the  air,  and  arreft  the  progrefs  of  the  diforder. 
The  people  had,  therefore,  almoft  every  night 
large  fires  lighted  at  the  corners  of  the  ftreets. 
The  29th,  the  mayor  publilhed  a  proclamation, 
forbidding  this  practice.  As  a  fubftitute,  many 
had  recourfe  to  the  firing  of  guns,  which  they 
imagined  was  a  certain  preventative  of  the  dif- 
order. This  was  carried  fo  far,  and  attended 
with  fuch  danger,  that  it  was  forbidden  by  the 
mayor's  order,  of  the  4th  of  September. 

The  number  of  the  infected  daily  increafing. 


(     24     ) 

and  the  cxiftence  of  an  order  againft  the  admit 
lion  of  perfons  labouring  under  infectious  dif- 
eafes  into  the  alms  houfe,  precluding  them  from 
a  refuge  there*,  fome  temporary  place  was  re- 
quifite,  and  three  of  the  guardians  of  the  poor 
took  poneffion  of  the  circus,  in  which  mr.  Ric- 
ketts  had  lately  exhibited  his  equeftrian  feats, 
being  the  only  place  that  could  be  procured  for 
the  purpofe.  Thither  they  fent  feven  perfons 
afflicted  with  the  malignant  fever,  where  they 
lay  in  the  open  air  for  fome  time,  and  without 
proper  affiftancef.  Of  thefe,  one  crawled  out  on 
the  commons,  where  he  died  at  a  diftance  from 
any  houfe.  Two  died  in  the  circus,  one  of  whom 
was  feafonably  removed  ;  the  other  lay  in  a  ft  ate 
of  putrefaction  for  above  forty  eight  hours,! 
owing  to  the  difficulty  of  procuring  any  perfon 

NOTE. 

*  At  this  period,  the  number  of  paupers  in  the  alms 
houfe  was  between  three  and  four  hundred  ;  and  the  ma- 
nagers, apprehensive  of  fpreading  the  diforder  among 
them,  enforced  the  abovetuentioned  order,  which  had 
been  entered  into  along  time  before.  They,  however,  fup- 
plied  beds  and  bedding,  and  all  the  money  in  their  trea- 
fury,  for  their  relief,  out  of  that  houfe. 

f  High  wages  were  offered  for  nurfes  for  thcTe  pcror 
people — but  none  could  be  procured. 


(    *5    ) 

to  remove  him.  On  this  occafion  occurred  an 
inftance  of  courage  in  a  fervant  girl,  of  which 
at  that  time  few  men  were  capable.  The  carter, 
who  finally  undertook  to  remove  the  corpfe, 
having  no  ailiftant,  and  being  unable  alone  to 
put  it  into  the  coffin,  was  on  the  point  of  relin- 
quifhing  his  defign,  and  quitting  the  place.  The 
girl  perceived  him,  and  underftanding  the  dif- 
ficulty he  laboured  under,  offered  her  fervices, 
provided  he  would  not  inform  the  family  with 
whom  fhe  lived.  She  accordingly  helped  him  to 
put  the  body  into  the  coffin,  which  was  by  that 
time  crawling  with  maggots,  and  in  fuch  a  ftate 
as  to  be  ready  to  fall  in  pieces.  It  gives  me  plea- 
fure  to  add,  that  fhe  ftill  lives,  notwithstanding 
her  very  hazardous  exploit. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
circus  took  the  alarm,  and  threatened  to  burn  or 
deftroy  it,  unlefs  the  lick  were  removed  ;  and 
it  is  believed  they  would  have  actually  carried 
their  threats  into  execution,  had  a  compliance 
been  delayed  a  day  longer. 

The  29th,  feven  of  the  guardians  of  the  poor 
had  a  conference  with  fome  of  the  city  magif* 
D 


(     26     ) 

trates  on  the  fubjeft  of  the  fever,  at  which  it 
was  agreed  to  be  indifpenfably  neceffary  that  a 
fuitable  houfe,  as  an  hofpital,  fhould  be  provided 
near  the  city  for  the  reception  of  the  infected 
poor. 

In  confequence,  the  fame  day,  the  guardians 
of  the  poor  refolved  to  ufe  their  utmoft  exer- 
tions to  procure  fuch  a  houfe  out  of  town,  and 
as  near  thereto,  as  might  be  practicable,  confift- 
ent  with  the  fafety  of  the  inhabitants,  for  the 
poor  who  were  or  might  be  afni&ed  with  conta- 
gious diforders,  and  be  deftitute  of  the  means  of 
providing  neceffary  afliftance  otherwife  ;  to  en- 
gage phylicians,  nurfes,  attendants,  and  all  ne- 
eeffaries  for  their  relief  in  that  houfe  ;  to  ap- 
point proper  perfons  in  each  diftrict,  to  enquire 
after  fuch  poor  as  might  be  afflicted  ;  to  adminif- 
ter  afliftance  to  them  in  their  own  houfes,  and, 
if  neceffary,  to  remove  them  to  the  hofpital. 
They  referved  to  themfelves  at  the  fame  time, 
the  liberty  of  drawing  on  the  mayor  for  fuch 
fums  as  might  be  neceffary  to  carry  their  re- 
folves  into  effect. 

Conformably  to  thefe  refolves,  a  committee  of 


(  $  ) 

the  guardians  was  appointed  to  make  enquiry 
for  a  fuitable  place ;  and  after  ftrict  examina- 
tion, they  judged  that  a  building  adjacent  to 
Bulhhill,  the  manfion  houfe  of  William  Hamil- 
ton, efq.  was  the  beft  calculated  for  the  pur- 
pofe.  And  that  gentleman  being  abfent,  and 
having  no  agent  in  the  city,  and  the  great  ur- 
gency of  the  cafe  admitting  no  delay,  eight  of 
the  guardians,  accompanied  by  Hilary  Baker, 
efq.  one  of  the  city  aldermen,  with  the  concur- 
rence of  the  governor,  proceeded  to  the  build- 
ing they  had  fixed  upon ;  and  meeting  with 
fome  opposition  from  a  tenant  who  occupied  it, 
they  took  poueflion  of  the  manfion  houfe  itfelf, 
tov/hich,  on  the  fame  evening,  the  31ft  of  Au- 
guft,  they  fent  the  four  patients  who  remained 
at  the  circus. 

Shortly  after  this,  the  guardians  of  the  poor 
for  the  city,  except  James  Wilfon,  Jacob  Tom- 
kins,  jun.  and  William  Sanfom,  ceafed  the 
performance  of  their  duties,  nearly  the  whole 
of  them  having  removed  out  of  the  city.  Before 
this  virtual  vacation  of  office,  they  paffed  a  re- 
folve  againft  the  admiffion  of  any  paupers  what- 
ever into  the  alms-houfe  during  the  prevalence 


(       2S       ) 

of  the  diforder.  The  caufe  of  entering  into  this 
order,  was,  that  fome  paupers,  who  had  been 
admitted  previous  thereto,  with  a  certificate 
from  the  phyficians,  of  their  being  free  from  the 
infection,  had  neverthelefs  died  of  it.  The  whole 
care  of  the  poor  of  the  city,  the  providing  for 
Bufh-hill,  fending  the  fick  there,  and  burying 
the  dead,  devolved,  therefore,  on  the  above 
three  guardians.  It  muft  give  the  reader  great 
forrow  to  hear,  that  two  of  them,  James  Wil- 
fon,  and  Jacob  Tomkins,  excellent  and  indefati- 
gable young  men,  whofe  fervices  were  at  that 
time  of  very  great  importance,  fell  facrifices  in 
the  caufe  of  humanity.  The  other,  William  San- 
fom,  was  likewife,  in  the  execution  of  his  dange- 
rous office,  feized  with  the  diforder,  and  on 
the  brink  of  the  grave,  but  was  fo  fortunate  as 
to  efcape. 

The  confirmation  of  the  people  of  Philadel- 
phia at  this  period  was  carried  beyond  all 
bounds.  Difmay  and  affright  were  vifible  in 
almoft  every  perfon's  countenance.  Moft  peo- 
ple who  could  by  any  means  make  it  convenient, 
fled  from  the  city.  Of  thofe  who  remained,  ma- 
ny fliut  themfelves  up  in  their  houfes,  and  were 


(     29     ) 

afraid  to  walk  the  ftreets.  The  confumption  of 
gunpowder  and  nitre  in  houfes  as  a  preventa- 
tive, was  inconceivable.  Many  were  almoft  in- 
ceffantly  purifying,  fcowering,  and  whitewash- 
ing their  rooms.  Thofe  who  ventured  abroad, 
had  handkerchiefs  or  fponges  impregnated  with 
vinegar  or  camphor,  at  their  nofes,  or  elfe  fmel- 
ling  bottles  with  the  thieves'  vinegar.  Others 
carried  pieces  of  tar  in  their  hands,  or  pockets, 
or  camphor  bags  tied  round  their  necks.  The 
corpfes  of  the  moft  refpeclable  citizens,  even  of 
thofe  who  did  not  die  of  the  epidemic,  were 
carried  to  the  grave,  on  the  fhafts  of  a  chair, 
the  horfe  driven  by  a  negro,  unattended  by  a 
friend  or  relation,  and  without  any  fort  of  ce- 
remony. People  fhifted  their  courfe  at  the  light 
of  a  hearfe  coming  towards  them.  Many  never 
walked  on  the  foot  path,  but  went  into  the 
middle  of  the  ftreets,  to  avoid  being  infected  in 
palling  by  houfes  wherein  people  had  died.  Ac- 
quaintances and  friends  avoided  each  other  in 
the  ftreets,  and  only  fignified  their  regard  by  a 
cold  nod.  The  old  cuftom  of  making  hands  fell 
into  fuch  general  difufe,  that  many  were  affront- 
ed at  even  the  offer  of  the  hand.  A  perfon  with 
a  crape,  or  any  appearance  of  mourning,  was 


(     3°     ) 

fhunned  like  a  viper.  And  many  valued  them- 
felves  highly  on  the  fkill  and  addrefs  with  which 
they  got  to  windward  of  every  perfon  they  met. 
Indeed  it  is  not  probable  that  London,  at  the 
Jaft  ftage  of  the  plague,  exhibited  ftronger  marks 
of  terror,  than  were  to  be  feen  in  Philadelphia, 
from  the  26th  or  27th  of  Auguft  till  pretty 
late  in  September.  When  people  fummoned  up 
refolution  to  walk  abroad,  and  take  the  air,  the 
iick  cart  conveying  patients  to  the  hofpital,  or 
the  hearfe  carrying  the  dead  to  the  grave, 
which  were  travelling  almoft  the  whole  day, 
foon  damped  their  fpirits,  and  plunged  them  a- 
gain  into  defpondency. 

While  affairs  were  in  this  deplorable  ftate, 
and  people  at  the  loweft  ebb  of  defpair,  we 
cannot  be  aftonifhed  at  the  frightful  fcenes  that 
were  acted,  which  feemed  to  indicate  a  total  dif- 
folution  of  the  bonds  of  fociety  in  the  neareft 
and  deareft  connexions.  Who,  without  horror, 
can  reflect  on  a  hufband  deferting  his  wife, 
united  to  him  perhaps  for  twenty  years,  in  the 
laft  agony — a  wife  unfeelingly  abandoning  her 
hufband  on  his  death  bed — parents  forfaking 
their     only    children— children    ungratefully 


(     3'     > 

flying  from  their  parents,  and  refigning 
them  to  chance,  often  without  an  enquiry- 
after  their  health  or  fafety — mailers  hurrying 
off  their  faithful  fervants  to  Buftihill,  even  on 
fufpicion  of  the  fever,  and  that  at  a  time,  when, 
like  Tartarus,  it  was  open  to  every  vifitant,  but 
never  returned  any — fervants  abandoning  ten- 
der and  humane  mafters,  who  only  wanted  a 
little  care  to  reftore  them  to  health  and  ufeful- 
nefs — who,  I  fay,  can  even  now  think  of  thefe 
things  without  horror  ?  Yet  fuch  were  daily 
exhibited  in  every  quarter  of  our  city. 

Thefe  defertions  produced  fcenes  of  diftreis 
and  mifery,  of  which  few  parallels  are  to  be  met 
with,  and  which  nothing  could  palliate,  but  the 
extraordinary  public  panic,  and  the  great  law 
of  felf  prefer vation,  the  dominion  of  which  ex- 
tends over  the  whole  animated  world.  Many- 
men  of  affluent  fortunes,  who  have  given  em- 
ployment and  fuftenance  to  hundreds  every  day 
in  the  year,  have  been  abandoned  to  the  care  of 
a  negro,  after  their  wives,  children,  friends, 
clerks,  and  fervants,  had  fled  away,  and  left 
them  to  their  fate.  In  many  cafes,  no  money 
could    procure  proper   attendance.    With   the 


(     3^     ) 

poor,  the  cafe  was,  as  might  be  expected,  infi- 
nitely worfe  than  with  the  rich.  Many  of  thefc 
have  perifhed,  without  a  human  being  to  hand 
them  a  drink  of  water,  to  adminifter  medicines, 
or  to  perform  any  charitable  office  for  them. 
Various  inftances  have  occurred,  of  dead  bodies 
found  lying  in  the  ftreets,  of  perfons  who  had  no 
houfe  or  habitation,  and  could  procure  no  fhelter. 

A  woman,  whofe  huiband  had  juft  died  of 
the  fever,  was  feized  with  the  pains  of  labour, 
and  had  nobody  to  aflift  her,  as  the  women  in 
the  neighbourhood  were  afraid  to  go  into  the 
houfe.  She  lay  for  a  confiderable  time  in  a  de- 
gree of  anguifh  that  will  not  bear  defcription. 
At  length,  fhe  ftruggled  to  reach  the  window, 
and  cried  out  for  afliftance.  Two  men,  pafling 
by,  went  up  ftairs ;  but  they  came  at  too  late 
a  ftage. — She  was  ftriving  with  death — and  ac- 
tually in  a  few  minutes   expired  in  their  arms.- 

A  woman,  whofe  hufband  and  two    children 

lay  dead  in  the  room  with  her,  was  in  the  fame 

iituation,  without  a  midwife,  or  any  other  perfon 

to  aid  her.  Her  cries  at  the  window  brought  up 

one  of  the  carters  employed  by  the  committee 


(    33     ) 

for  the  relief  of  the  fick.  With  his  afliftance, 
Ihe  was  delivered  of  a  child,  which  died  in  a  few 
minutes,  as  did  the  mother,  who  was  utterly 
exhausted  by  her  labour,  by  the  diforder,  and 
by  the  dreadful  fpecfcacle  before  her.  And  thus 
lay  in  one  room,  no  lefs  than  five  dead  bodies, 
an  entire  family,  carried  off  in  an  hour  or  two. 
Many  inftances  have  occurred,  of  refpe&able 
women,  who,  in  their  lying-in,  have  been  oblig- 
ed to  depend  on  fervant  women  for  afliftance 
— and  fome  have  had  none  but  their  hufbands. 
Some  of  the  midwives  were  dead — and  others 
had  left  the  city. 

A  fervant  girl,  belonging  to  a  family  in  this 
city,  in  which  the  fever  had  prevailed,  was  ap- 
prehenfive  of  danger,  and  refolved  to  remove 
to  a  relation's  houfe,  in  the  country.  She  was, 
however,  taken  lick  on  the  road,  and  returned 
to  town,  where  Ihe  could  find  no  perfon  to 
receive  her.  One  of  the  guardians  of  the  poor 
provided  a  cart,  and  took  her  to  the  alms  houfe, 
into  which  fne  was  refufed  admittance.  She  was 
brought  back,  and  the  guardian  offered  five  dol- 
lars to  procure  her  a  fingle  night's  lodging,  but 
in  vain.  And  in  fine,  after  every  effort  made  to 

E 


C     34     ) 

provide  her  fhelter,  Ike  abfolutely  expired  in  the 
cart. 

To  relate  all  the  frightful  cafes  of  this  nature 
that  occurred,  would  fill  a  volume.  Let  thefe 
few  fumce.  But  I  muft  obferve,  that  moil  of 
them  happened  in  the  firft  ftage  of  the  public 
panic.  Afterwards,  when  the  citizens  recovered  a 
little  from  their  fright,  they  became  rare. 

Great  as  was  the  calamity  of  Philadelphia,  it 
was  magnified  in  the  moll  extraordinary  man- 
ner. The  hundred  tongues  of  rumour  were 
never  more  fuccefsfully  employed,  than  on  this 
melancholy  occafion.  The  terror  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  all  the  neighbouring  Hates  was  excited 
by  letters  from  Philadelphia,-  diftributed  by 
every  mail,  many  of  which  told  tales  of  woej 
whereof  hardly  a  fingle  circumftance  was  true, 
but  which  were  every  where  received  with  impli- 
cit faith.  The  diftreffes  of  the  city,  and  the  fata- 
lity of  the  diforder,  were  exaggerated  as  it 
were  to  fee  how  far  credulity  could  be  carried. 
The  plague  of  London  was,  according  to  ru- 
mour, hardly  more  fatal  than  our  yellow  fever. 
Our  citizens  died  fo  fall,  that  there  was  hardly 


(     35     ) 

enough  of  people  to  bury  them.  Ten,  or  fifteen, 
or  more  were  faid  to  be  can:  into  one  hole  together, 
like  fo  many  dead  beads*.  One  man,  who  could 
find  his  feelings  eafy  enough,  to  be  facetious  on 
the  fubject.,  acquainted  his  correfpondent,  that 
the  only  bufinefs  carrying  on,  was  grave  digging, 
or  rather  pit  digging^.  And  at  a  time  when  the 

NOTES. 

*  The  following  extract  appeared  in  a  Norfolk  paper 

about  the  middle  of  September  : 
Extra-fl   of  a  letter  from    Philadelphia,   to  a  gentleman  in 
Norfolk,  Sept.  9. 
"  Half  the  inhabitants  of  this   city  have  already  fled 
*{  to  different  parts,  on  account  of  the  peftilential  diforder 
f(  that  prevails  here.  The  few  citizens  who   remained  in 
"  this  place,  die  in  abundance,  fo  faft  that  they  drag  them 
u  away,  like  dead  beafls,  and  put  ten,  or  fifteen,  or  more  in  a  hole 
(i  together.    All  the  /lores  are  fhut  up.  I  am  afraid  this  city 
(<  will  be  ruined  :  for  nobody  will  come  near  it  hereafter. 
"  I  am    this  day   removing  niy   family   from   this  fatal 
'f  place." 

+  From  a  New  York  paper  of  October   2. 
Extract  of a  letter  from  a  gentleman   in  Philadelphia,  dated 

Sept   2?. 

"  The  papers  mud  have  amply  informed  you  of  the 

<f  melancholy  lituation   of  this  city  for  five  or  fix  weeks 

u  pad.   Grave- digging  has  been  the  only  bufinefs  carrying 

-  on  ;  and  indeed  I  may  fay  of  late,  pit-digging,   where 


(     35     ) 

deaths  did  not  exceed  from  forty  to  fifty  daily, 
many  men  had  the  modefty  to  write,  and  others, 
throughout  the  continent,  the  credulity  to  be- 
lieve, that  we  burie4  from  one  hundred  to  one 
hundred  and   fifty*".  Thoufands  were  fwept  off 

notes. 

"  people  are  interred  indifcriminately  in  three  tiers  of 
"  coffins.  From  the  nioft  accurate  obfervations  I  can  make 
"  upon  matters,  1  think  I  fpeak  within  bounds,  when 
"  I  fay,  eighteen  hundred  perfonshave  perifhed  (I  do  not 
"  fay  all  of  the  yellow  fever)  fince  its  firft  appearance." 

#  From  the  Maryland  Journal,  of  Sept,  21th. 

ExtracJ  of  a  letter  from  Philadelphia,  dated  Sept.  20th, 
"'The  diforder  feems  to  be  much  the  fame  in  this 
"  place,  as  when  I  laft  Wrote  you  :  about  1500  have  fal- 
"  len  victims  to  it.  Lalt  Sunday,  Monday,  and  Tuefilay, 
**  there  were  not  lefs  than  550  died  With  this  fevere  difor- 
"der  !  !  !  As  I  informed  you  before,  this  is  the  moil  dif- 
**  treffed  place  I  ever  beheld.  Whole  families  go  in  the  dif- 
"  order,  in  the  conrfe  of  twelve  hours.  For  your  own 
"  fakes,  ufe  all  poffible  means  to  keep  it  but  of  Baltir 
f*  more."  =  •■'    :    ,.:...-. 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  Philadelphia,  of  the  fame  date  : 
"  The  malignant  fever  which  prevails  here,  is  ftill  in. 
"  cr'eafing.'  Report  fays,  that' above  one  hundred  have 
"been  buried  per  day  for  fome-  time  pad.  It  is  now 
"thought  to  be  more  in'fectious  than  ever.  I  think  you 
"ought  to  be  very  careful  with  refpecr:  to  admittinp 
"  perfoas  from  Philadelphia  into  your  town."  »* 


(     37     ) 

in  three  or  four  weeks*.  And  the  nature  and 
danger  of  the  diforder,  were  as  much  mifreprc- 
tented,  as  the  number  of  the  dead.  It  was  faid, 
in  defiance  of  every  day's  experience,  to  be  as 
inevitable  by  all  expofed  to  the  contagion,  as  the 
ftroke  of  fate. 

The  effects  produced  by  thefe  letters*  were 
uich  as  might  be  reasonably  expected.  The  con- 
sternation fpread  though  the  feveral  ftates  like 
wild-fire.  The  firft  public  act  that  took  place  on 
the  fubject,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  was  at  Chefter-  ■ 
town,  in  Maryland.  At  this  place,  a  meeting  was 
held  on  the  i  oth  of  September,  at  which  feverai 
rsfolves  were  entered  into,  which,  after  fpecify- 

N    O    T    E. 

*   From  aCheflertoivn  paper,  rf  Srpt,  10. 

F.xtraft  of  a  letter  from  a  refpetfable youn?  7/trchani/:,  in. 
Philadelphia,  to  his  friend  in  this  town,  dated  the  $th  in-p. 
"  It  is  now  a  very  mortal  time  in  this  city.  Theyellow 
{t  fever  hath  killed  fovie  thousands  of  the  inhabitants. 
"Eight  thoufand  mechanics,  befides  other  people,  have 
,f  left  the  town.  Every  mailer  in  the  city,  of  our  branch 
"of  bufinefs,  is  gone."  The  "  foms  thoufands"  that  were 
killed  at  that  time  did  not  amount  to  three  hundred. 
The  authentic  information  in  this  letter,  was  circulated 
in   every  ftate  in  the  union,  by  the  news  papers. 


(     3»     ) 

ing  that  the  diforder  had  extended  to  Trenton, 
Princeton,  Woodbridge,  and  Elizabeth-town, 
on  the  poft  road  to  New  York,  directed,  that 
notice  fhould  be  fent  to  the  owners  of  the  ftages 
not  to  allow  them  to  pafs  through  the  town, 
while  there  mould  be  reafon  to  expect  danger 
therefrom  ;  that  a  committee  of  health  and  in- 
spection mould  be  appointed,  to  provide  for  the 
relief  of  fuch  poor  inhabitants  as  might  take  the 
diforder,  and  likewife  for  fuch  ftrangers  as 
might  be  infected  with  it.  They  at  the  fame  ap- 
pointed feven  perfons  as  this  committee, 
with  power  to  call  a  general  meeting  in  par- 
ticular Specified  cafes.  In  confequence  of 
thefe  refolves,  the  Eaftern  more  line  of 
ftages  was  ftopt  in  the  courfe  of  a  few  days 
afterwards. 

The  alarm  in  New  York  was  firfl;  officially 
announced  by  a  letter  from  the  mayor  to  the 
practifing  phyficians,  dated  Sept.  n,  in  which 
he  requested  them  to  report  to  him  in  writing 
the  names  of  all  fuch  perfons  as  had  arrived, 
or  mould  arrive  from  Philadelphia,  or  any  other 
place,  by  land  or  water,  and  were  or  mould  be 
fick  ;   that  fuch  as  mould  be  deemed  fubjects  of 


(     39     / 

infectious  difeafes,  might  be  removed  out  of 
the  city.  He  notified  them,  that  the  corporation 
had  taken  meafures  to  provide  a  proper  place 
for  an  hofpital,  for  fuch  perfons  as  might  un- 
happily become  fubjects  of  the  fever  in  New 
York.  In  this  letter  the  mayor  declared  his  opi- 
nion clearly,  that  the  intercourfe  with  Philadel- 
phia, could  not  be  lawfully  interrupted  by  any 
power  in  the  ftate.  The  1 2th  appeared  a  procla- 
mation from  governor  Clinton,  which,  refer- 
ring to  the  "  act  to  prevent  the  bringing  in,  and 
4C  fpreading  of  infectious  diforders,"  prohibited, 
in  the  terms  of  that  act,  all  veffels  from  Phila- 
delphia, to  approach  nearer  to  the  city  of  New 
York,  than  Bedlow's  ifland,  about  two  miles 
diftant,  till  duly  difcharged.  The  filence  of  this 
proclamation,  refpecting  paffengers  by  land, 
feemed  to  imply  that  the  governor's  opinion  on 
the  fubject,  was  the  fame  as  that  of  the  mayor. 

The  fame  day,,  at  a  meeting  of  the  citizens, 
the  neceftity  of  taking  fome  precautions  was 
unanimouily  agreed  upon,  and  a  committee  of 
feven  appointed  to  report  a  plan  to  a  meet- 
ing to  be  held  next  day.  Their  report,  which 
was  unanimoufly  agreed  to,  the  13th,  recom- 


(     4°     ) 

mended  to  hire  two  phyficians,  to  ailift  the 
phyiician  of  the—port  in  his  examinations  of 
veiTels  ;  to  check,  as  much  as  poflible,  the  inter- 
courfe  by  ftages ;  to  acquaint  the  proprietors 
of  the  fouthern  ftages,  that  it  was  the  earneft 
wifli  of  the  inhabitants,  that  their  carriages  and 
boats  fhould  not  pafs  during  the  prevalence  of 
the  diforder  in  Philadelphia  ;  and  to  requeft  the. 
practitioners  of  phyfic  to  report,  without  fail, 
every  cafe  of  fever,  to  which  they  might  be 
called,  occurring  in  any  perfons  that  had  or 
might  arrive  from  Philadelphia,  or  have  inter- 
courfe  with  them.  Not  fatisfied  with  thefe  mea- 
fures,  the  corporation,  on  the  17th,  came  to  a 
refolution  to  ftop  all  intercourfe  between  the 
two  cities  ;  and  for  this  purpofe  guards  were 
placed  at  the  different  landings,  with  orders  to 
fend  back  every  perfon  coming  from  Philadel- 
phia ;  and  if  any  were  difcovered  to  have 
arrived  after  that  date,  they  were  to  be 
directly  fent  back.  All  perfons.  taking  in  lodg- 
ers, were  called  upon  to  give  information  of  all 
people  of  the  above  defcription,  under  pain  of 
being  profecuted  according  to  law.  All  good 
citizens  were  required  to  give  information  to 
the  mayor,  or  any  member  of  the  committee,  of 
any  breach  in  the  premifes. 


(     41      ) 

All  thefe  ftrict  precautions  being  eluded  by 
the  fears  and  the  vigilance  of  the  fugitives  from 
Philadelphia,  on  the  23d  there  was  a  meeting 
held,  of  delegates  from  the  feveral  wards  of  the 
city,  in  order  to  adopt  more  effectual  meafures. 
At  this  meeting,  it  was  refolved  to   eftablifh  a 
night  watch  of  not  lefs  than  ten  citizens  in  each 
ward,  to  guard  againft  fuch  as  might  efcape  them 
by  day.  Not  yet  eafe.oVof  their  fears,  they  next  day 
publifhed  an  addrefs,  in  which  they  mentioned, 
that   notwithstanding   their  utmoft    vigilance, 
many   perfons    had  been  clandeftinely  landed 
upon  the  Chores  of  New  York  ifland.    They 
therefore  again  called  upon  their  fellow  citizens 
to  be  cautious  how  they  received  ftrangers  into 
their  houfes  ;  not  to  fail  to  report   all   fuch  to 
the  mayor  immediately  upon  their   arrival ;  to 
remember  the  importance  of  the  occafion  ;  and 
to  confider  what  reply  they  mould  make  to  the 
juft  refentment  of  their  fellow  citizens,  whofe 
lives  tfyey  might  expofe  by  a   criminal  neglect, 
or  infidelity.  They  likewife  declared  their  ex- 
pectation, that   thofe  who  kept  the  different 
ferries  on  the  mores  of  New  Jerfey  and   Staten 
ifland,  would  pay  fuch  attention  to  their  ad- 
drefs, as  not  to  tranfport  any  perfon  but  to  the 

F 


v 


(       4*       ) 

public  landings,  and  that  in  the  day  time,  be- 
tween fun  and  fun.  The  30th  they  publifhed  a 
lengthy  addrefs,  recapitulating  the  various  pre- 
cautions they  had  taken — the  nature  of  the 
diforder — and  the  numbers  who  had  died  out  of 
Philadelphia,  without  communicating  it  to  any 
one.  They  at  the  fame  time  refolved,  that 
goods,  bedding,  and  clothing,  packed  up  in 
Philadelphia,  Ihould,  previous  to  their  being 
brought  into  New  York,  be  unpacked  and  ex- 
pofedto  the  open  air  in  fome  well-ventilated 
place,  for  at  leaft  48  hours  ;  that  all  linen  or 
cotton  clothes,  or  bcdding,which  had  been  ufed, 
fhould  be  well  warned  in  feveral  waters  ;  and  af- 
terwards, that  the  whole,  both  fuch  as  had  been, 
and  fuch  as  had  not  been  ufed,  mould  be  hung 
up  in  a  clofe  room,  and  well  fmoked  with  the 
fumes  of  brimftone  for  one  day,  and  after  that 
again  expofed  for  at  leaft  twenty  four  hours  to 
the  open  air  ;  and  that  the  boxes,  trunks,  or 
xrhefts,  in  which  they  had  been  packed,  fhould 
be  cleaned  and  aired  in  the  fame  manner  ;  after 
which,  being  repacked,  and  fuch  evidence  given 
of  their  purification,  as  the  committee  mould  re- 
quire, permiffion  might  be  had  to  bring  them 
into  the  city. 


(     43     ) 

The  nth  "of  October,  they  likewife  refolved, 
that  they   would   confider  and  publifh  to  the 
world,  as  enemies  to  the  welfare  of  the  city,  and 
the  lives  of  its  inhabitants,  all  thofe  who  fhould 
be  fo  felfifh  and  hardy,   as  to  attempt  to  intro- 
troduce  any  goods,   wares,  merchandize,  bed- 
ding, baggage,  kc.  imported  from,  or  packed  up 
in  Philadelphia,  contrary  to  the  rules  prefcribed 
by  that  body,  who  were,  they  faid,   deputed 
to   exprefs  the  will   of  their   fellow   citizens. 
They   recommended     to   the     inhabitants    to 
withftand   any   temptation    of    profit,    which 
might  attend  the  purchafe  of  goods  in  Philadel- 
phia, as  no  emolument  to  an  individual,   they 
added,  could  warrant  the  hazard  to  which  fuch 
conduct  might  expofe  the  city.  Befides  all  thefe 
refolves,  they  publifhed  daily  ftatements  of  the 
health  of  the  city,  to  allay  the  fears  of  their  fel- 
low citizens. 

I  did  not  choofe  to  interrupt  this  account  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  committee  of  health,  to 
mention,  in  order  of  time,  that  the  clersrv  of 
New  York  had  a  meeting,  on  the  16th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  unanimoufly  agreed  to  fet  apart 
Friday,  the  2.9th,  as  a  day  of  humiliation,  fail- 


(     44     ) 

ing,  and  prayer  to  Almighty  God,  for  the  pre- 
fervation  of  their  city,  from  the  fever,  and  for 
the  comfort  and  fupport  of  their  brethren  in 
Philadelphia,  in  the  feafon  of  their  diitrefs.  The 
Dutch  fynod  of  New  York  had  a  meeting  the 
firft  week  in  October,  at  which  they  agreed  that 
thofe  churches  under  their  care,  which  had  not 
yet  obferved  a  day  of  farting  and  prayer,  mould 
devote  the  fecond  Wednefday  in  November  to 
that  purpofe, 

The  inhabitants  of  Trenton  and  Lamberton  af- 
fociated  on  the  1 3th  of  Sept.  and  on  the  1 7th 
pafled  feveral  refolutions  to  guard  themfelves 
againft  the  contagion.  They  refolved  that  a  total 
flop  mould  be  put  to  the  landing  of  all  perfons 
from  Philadelphia,  at  any  ferry  or  place  from 
Lamberton  to  Howell's  ferry,  four  miles  above 
Trenton;  that  the  intercourfe  by  water  mould  be 
prohibited  between  Lamberton,  or  the  head  of 
tide  water,  and  Philadelphia  ;  and  that  all  boats 
from  Philadelphia,  fhould  be  prevented  from  land- 
ing either  goods  or  paffengers  any  where  between 
Bordentown  and  the  head  of  tide  water  ;  that  no 
perfon  whatever  lhould  be  permitted  to  come 
from  Philadelphia,  or  Kenfmgton,  while  the  fe- 


(     45     ) 

ver  continued  ;  that  all  perfons  who  fliould  go 
from  within  the  limits  of  the  aflbciation,  to  ei- 
ther of  thofe  places,  fhould  be  prevented  from 
returning  during  the  continuance  of  the  fever ; 
and  finally,  that  their  ftanding  committee  fliould 
enquire  whether  any  perfons,  not  inhabitants, 
who  had  lately  come  from  places  infected,  and 
were  therefore  likely  to  be  infected  themfelves, 
were  within  the  limits  of  the  aflbciation,  and  if 
fev  that  they  fliould  be  obliged  inftantly  to  leave 
the  laid  limits.  The  people  of  Jerfey  obferved 
the  i  ft  of  October,  as  a  day  of  fading  and  prayer, 
for  the  fame  purpofe  as  thofe  of  New  York. 

The  1 2th  of  September,  the  governor  of  Ma- 
ryland publifhed  a  proclamation,  fubjecting  all 
veffels  from  Philadelphia  to  the  performance 
of  a  quarantine,  not  exceeding  forty  days,  or 
as  much  lefs  as  might  be  judged  fafe  by  the 
health  officers.  It  further  ordered,  that  all  per- 
fons going  to  Baltimore,  to  Havre  de  Grace, 
to  the  head  of  Elk,  or,  by  any  other  route, 
making  their  way  into  that  ftate  from  Phila- 
delphia, or  any  other  place  known  to  be  infect- 
ed with  the  malignant  fever,  fliould  be  fubject 
to  be  examined,  and  prevented  from  proceed- 


(     46     ) 

ing,  by  pcrfons  to  be  appointed  for.  that  pur- 
pofe,  and  who  were  to  take  the  advice  and 
opinion  of  the  medical  faculty  in  every  cafe,  in 
order  that  private  affairs  and  purfuits  might 
not  be  unneceiTarily  impeded.  This  proclama- 
tion appointed  two  health  officers  for  Balti- 
more. 

The   people  of  Baltimore  met  the   13th  of 
September,  and  refolved  that  none  of  their  ci- 
tizens fhould  receive  into  their  houfes  any  per- 
fons  coming  from  Philadelphia,  or  other  in- 
fected  place,  without   producing   a   certil 
from  the  health  officer,   or  officer  of  patrole  . 
and  that  any  perfon  who  violated  that  refolve, 
fhould  be  held  up  to  public  view,  as  a  proper 
object   for  the  refentment  of  the  town.    The 
14th,  a  party  of  militia  was  difpatched  to  take 
pofleffion  of  a  pafs  on  the  Philadelphia  road* 
about  two  miles  from  Baltimore,  to  prevent  the 
entrance  of  any  paflengers   from  Philadelphia 
without  licenfc.  Dr.  Worthington,  the  health 
officer  ftationed  at  this  pafs,  was  directed  to  re- 
fufe   permiffion  to  perfons  afflicted  with  any 
malignant  complaint,  or  who  had  not  been  ab- 
fent  from  Philadelphia,  or  other  infected  place, 


C     47     )' 

at  leaft  feven  days.  The  weflern  more  line  of 
Philadelphia  ftages  was  flopped  about  the  18th 
or   1 9th. 

The  30th,  the  committee  of  health  refolved 
that  no  inhabitant  of  Baltimore,  who  fhould 
vifit  perfons  from  Philadelphia,  while  perform- 
ing quarantine,  mould  be  permitted  to  enter 
the  town,  until  the  time  of  quarantine  was  ex- 
pired, and  until  it  was  certainly  known  that  the 
perfons  he  had  vilited  were  free  from  the  infec- 
tion ;  and  that  thenceforward  no  goods  capable 
of  conveying  infection,  that  had  been  landed  or 
packed  up  in  Philadelphia,  or  other  infected 
place,  mould  be  permitted  to  enter  the  town — 
nor  mould  any  baggage  of  travellers  be  admit- 
ted, until  it  had  been  expofed  to  the  open  air 
iuch  length  of  time  as  the  health  officer  might 
direct. 

The  25th  of  September,  the  inhabitants  of 
Havre  de  Grace,  refolved  that  no  perfon  mould 
be  allowed  to  crofs  the  Sufquehannah  riveratthat 
place,  who  did  not  bring  a  certificate  of  his  not 
having  lately  come  from  Philadelphia^-  or  any 
other  infected  place  ;  and  that  the  citizens  of 


(  48  ; 

Havre  would  embody  themfelves  to  prevent  any 
one  from  crofling  without  fuch  a  certificate. 

At  Hagerftown,  on  the  3d  of  October,  it 
was  refolved,  that  no  citizen  mould  receive  into 
his  houfe  any  perfon  coming  from  Philadelphia, 
fuppofed  to  be  infected  with  the  malignant  fe- 
ver, until  he  or  flie  produced  a  certificate  from 
a  health  officer  ;  that  fliould  any  citizen  contra- 
vene the  above  refolution,  he  mould  be  profcrib- 
ed  from  all  fociety  with  his  fellow  citizens  ;  that 
the  clothing  fent  to  the  troops  then  in  that  town, 
ihould  not  be  received  there,  nor  fufFered  to 
come  within  feven  miles  thereof ;  that  if  any 
perfon  from  Philadelphia,  or  other  infected 
place,  ihould  arrive  there,  he  fliould  be  required 
inftantly  to  depart,  and  in  cafe  of  refufal  or  ne- 
glect, be  compelled  to  go  without  delay ;  that 
no  merchant,  or  other  perfon,  Ihould  be  permit- 
ted to  bring  into  the  town,  or  open  therein, 
any  goods  brought  from  Philadelphia,  or  other 
infected  place,  until  permitted  by  the  com- 
mittee ;  and  that  the  citizens  of  the  town,  and 
its  vicinity,  fliould  enrol  themfelves  as  a  guard, 
and  patrol^  fuch  roads  and  paffes  as  the  commit- 
tee fliould  direct. 


(     49     ) 

The  governor  of  Virginia,  on  the  17th  of 
September,  iflued  a  proclamation,  ordering  all 
veffds  from  Philadelphia,  the  Grenades,  and  the 
ifland  of  Tobago,  to  perform  a  quarantine  of 
twenty  days,  at  the  anchorage  ground,  off  Cra- 
ney  ifland,  near  the  mouth  of  Elizabeth  river. 

The  corporation  of  Alexandria  ftationed  a 
look-out  boat,  to  prevent  all  veflels  bound  to 
that  port,  from  approaching  nearer  than  one 
mile,  until  after  examination  by  the  health  of- 
ficer. 

The  people  of  Winchefter  placed  guards  at 
every  avenue  of  the  town  leading  from  the  Pa- 
tomac,  to  flop  all  fufpecied  perfons,  packages, 
&c.  coming  from  Philadelphia  till  the  health 
officers  fliould  infpecl  them,  and  either  forbid 
or  allow  them  to  pafs. 

The  legiilature  of  Maffachufetts  happened  to 
be  actually  in  feflion,  at  the  time  the  alarm 
fpread  ;  and  they  accordingly  pafled  an  exprefs 
act  for  guarding  againft  the  impending  danger. 
This  act  directed  that  the  felectmen  in  the  dif- 
ferent towns  fliould  be  authorifed  to  flop  and 

G 


C   50    ) 

examine  any  perfons,  baggage,  merchandize, 
or  effects,  coming,  or  mppofed  to  be  com- 
ing into  the  towns  reflectively,  from  Philadel- 
phia, or  other  place  infected,  or  mppofed  to  be 
infected  ;  and  mould  it  appear  to  them,  or  to 
any  officers  whom  they  mould  appoint,  that 
any  danger  of  infection  was  to  be  apprehended 
from  fuch  perfons,  effects,  baggage,  or  mer- 
chandize, they  were  authorifed  to  detain  or 
remove  the  fame  to  fuch  place  as  they  might 
fee  proper,  in  order  that  they  might  be  puri- 
fied from  infection  ;  or  to  place  any  perfons  fo 
coming,  in  fuch  places,  and  under  fuch  regu- 
lations as  they  might  judge  neceffary  for  the 
public  fafety.  In  purfuance  of  this  act,  the  go- 
vernor iffued  a  proclamation  to  carry  it  into  ef- 
fect, the  21ft  of  September. 

The  felectmen  of  Bofton,  on  the  24th,  pub- 
limed  their  regulations  of  quarantine,  which 
ordered,  that  on  the  arrival  of  any  veffel  from 
Philadelphia,  fhe  mould  be  detained  at,  or  near 
Rainsford's  Ifland,  to  perform  a  quarantine  not 
exceeding  thirty  days,  during  which  time  fhe 
mould  be  cleanfed  with  vinegar,  and  the  ex- 
plofion  of  gunpowder  between  the   decks  and 


(    5'     ) 

in  the  cabin,  even  though  there  were  no  flck 
perfons  on  board  ;  that  in  cafe  there  mould  be 
lick  on  board,  they  mould  be  removed  to  an 
hofpital,  where  they  mould  be  detained  till 
they  recovered,  or  were  long  enough  to  afcer- 
tain  that  they  had  not  the  infection  ;  that  every 
velfel,  performing  quarantine,  fhould  be  de- 
prived of  its  boat,  and  no  boat  fufFered  to  ap- 
proach it,  but  by  fpecial  permiffion  ;  that  if  any 
perfon  fhould  efcape,  he  mould  be  inftantly  ad- 
vertifed,  in  order  that  he  might  be  apprehended ; 
that  any  perfons  coming  by  land  from  Philadel- 
phia, mould  not  be  allowed  to  enter  Bofton, 
until  twenty-one  days  after  their  arrival,  and 
their  effects,  baggage,  and  merchandize  mould 
be  opened,  warned,  and  fumigated  with  vinegar 
and  repeated  explofions  of  gunpowder.  In  the 
conclufion,  the  felechnen  called  upon  the  inhabi- 
tants "  to  ufe  their  utmoft  vigilance  and  activity 
to  bring  to  condign  punifhment  any  perfon  who 
mould  be  fo  daring  and  loft  to  every  idea  of 
humanity,  as  to  come  into  the  town  from  any 
place  fuppofed  to  be  infected,  thereby  endanger- 
ing the  lives  of  their  fellow  men." 


The  governor  of  Rhode  Ifland,  the  2  ill  of 


(    S*    ) 

September,  iffued  a  proclamation,  directing  the 
town  councils  and  other  officers,  to  ufe  their 
utmoft  vigilance  to  caufe  the  law  to  prevent 
the  fpreading  of  contagious  diforders  to  be  moft 
ftricHy  executed,  more  efpecially  with  refpect 
to  all  veffels  which  mould  arrive  in  that  ftate 
from  the  Weft  Indies,  Philadelphia,  and  New- 
York  ;  the  extenlion  to  the  latter  place  was  ow- 
ing to  the  danger  apprehended  from  the  inter- 
courfe  between  it  and  Philadelphia. 

The  28  th  of  September,  the  governor  of 
North  Carolina  published  his  proclamation,  re- 
quiring the  commiffioners  of  navigation  in  the 
different  ports,  and  the  commiffioners  of  the 
different  towns  in  the  faid  ftate,  to  appoint  cer- 
tain places,  where  all  veflels  from  the  port  of 
Philadelphia,  or  any  other  place  where  the  ma- 
lignant fever  might  prevail,  mould  perform 
quarantine  for  fuch  number  of  days  as  they 
might  think  proper. 

The  inhabitants  of  Charlefton  do  not  feem  to 
have  been  far  behind  their  neighbours,  in  their 
apprehenfions  or  their  cautions.  The  8th  of  Oct. 
they  had  a  meeting,   at  which  they   refolved, 


(    53    ) 

that  no  veficl  from  the  river  Delaware,  either 
directly  or  after  having  touched  at  any  other 
port  of  the  united  ftates,  fhould  be  permitted 
to  pafs  Charlefton  bar,  till  the  citizens  have 
again  affembled,  and  declared  themfelves  fatis- 
fied  that  the  diforder  has  ceafed  in  Philadelphia. 
If  any  veffel,  contrary  thereto,  mould  crofs  the 
bar,  his  excellency  fhould  be  requefted  to  com- 
pel it  to  quit  the  port,  and  return  to  fea.  Be- 
fore this  meeting,  veffels  from  Philadelphia  had 
been  obliged  to  perform  quarantine ;  but  by 
what  regulation,  I  cannot  afcertain. 

The  governor  of  Georgia,  on  the  4th  of 
October,  published  a  proclamation,  ordering  all 
veffels  from  Philadelphia,  which  mould  arrive 
in  Savannah  river,  to  remain  in  Tybee  creek,  or 
in  other  parts  at  like  diftance  from  the  town, 
until  the  health  officer  of  the  port  mould,  on 
examination,  certify,  that  no  malignant  or  con- 
tagious difeafe  was  on  board.  All  perfons  con- 
travening this  proclamation,  were  to  be  profe- 
cuted,  and  fubjeeled  to  the  pains  and  penalties 
by  law  pointed  out. 

The  people  of  Augufta,  in  that  ftate,  were 


(     84     ) 

as  active  and  vigilant  as  their  northern  neigh- 
bours, to  guard  againft  the  threatening  dangers. 

While  our  citizens  were  thus  profcribed  in  fe- 
veral  cities  and  towns — hunted  up  like  felons  in 
fome — and  debarred  admittance  and  turned 
back  in  others,  whether  found  or  infected-— it 
is  with  extreme  fatisfaction  I  have  to  record  a 
conduct  totally  different,  which  cannot  fail  to 
make  an  indelible  impreflion  on  the  minds  of 
the  people  of  Philadelphia,  and  call  forth  the 
moft  lively  emotions  of  gratitude. 

A  refpeclable  number  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Springfield,  in  New  Jerfey,  met  the  firft  day 
of  October,  and  after  a  full  confideration  of  the 
diftreffes  of  our  citizens,  paffed  a  refolve,  offer- 
ing their  town  as  an  afylum  to  the  people  flying 
from  Philadelphia,  and  directing  their  commit- 
tee to  provide  a  fuitable  place  as  an  hofpital  for 
fuch  of  them  as  might  be  feized  with  the  pre- 
vailing malignant  fever. 

I  have  been  informed,  by  a  perfon  of  credit, 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Elizabeth  town  have 
purfued  the  fame  liberal  plan,  as  thofe  of 
Springfield ;   but  have  not  been  able  to  procure 


(    55    ) 

a  copy  of  their  refolves  or  proceedings  on  the 
iubjecl. 

An  afylum  has  likewife  been  offered  to  Bhila- 
delphians,  by  feveral  of  the  inhabitants  of  Elk- 
ton,  in  Maryland ;  and  the  offer  was  couched 
in  terms  of  the  utmoft  fympathy  for  our  fuf- 
feringrs. 

o 

The  inftances  of  this  kind,  through  this  ex- 
tenfive  country,  have  been  very  few ;  but  they 
are  therefore  only  the  more  precious,  and 
ought  to  be  held  up  to  public  approbation. 
May  they  operate  on  people,  at  a  future  day, 
in  fimilar  cafes  of  dreadful  calamity — and 
teach  them  to  temper  their  caution  with  as 
much  humanity  and  tendernefs  to  the  diftreiTed 
fugitives,  as  prudence  will  allow — and  not  in- 
volve in  one  indifcriminate  profcription  the 
healthy  and  infected. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  lituation  of  affairs  in 
Philadelphia,  became  daily  more  and  more  feri- 
ous.  The  three  guardians  of  the  poor  for  the 
city,  who,  as  I  have  faid,  continued  to  act,  were 
quite  oppreffed  with  the  labours  of  their  office, 
which  increafed  to  fuch  a  degree,  that    they 


(     56     ) 

were  utterly  unable  to  execute  them.  The  num- 
ber of  difeafed  perfons  became  very  great. 
Owing  to  the  general  terror,  nurfes,  carters, 
and  attendants  could  hardly  be  procured.  Thus 
circumHanced,  the  mayor  of  the  city,  on  the 
lothof  September,  publifhed  an  addrefs  to  the 
citizens,  announcing  that  the  guardians  of  the 
poor,  who  remained,  were  in  diflrefs  for  want 
of  aflillance,  and  inviting  fuch  benevolent  citi- 
zens as  felt  for  the  general  diflrefs,  to  lend  their 
aid.  In  confequence  of  this  advertifement,  a 
meeting  of  the  citizens  was  held  at  the  city 
hall,  on  the  1 2th  of  September,  at  which  very 
few  attended,  from  the  univeral  confternation 
that  prevailed.  The  ftate  of  the  poor  was  fully 
confidered  ;  and  ten  citizens,  Ifrael  Ifrael,  Sa- 
muel Wetherill,  Thomas  Wiftar,  Andrew  Ad- 
gatc,  Caleb  Lownes,  Henry  Deforeft,  Thomas 
Peters,  Jofcph  Inlkeep,  Stephen  Girard,  and 
John  Mafon,  offered  themfelves  to  aflift  the 
guardians  of  the  poor.  At  this  meeting,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  confer  with  the  phyfi- 
clans  who  had  the  care  of  Bum-hill.  This 
committee  reported  next  evening,  that  the 
hofpital  was  in  very  bad  order,  and  in  want  of 
•almoft  every  thing. 


(     57     ) 

Hie  14th,  another  meeting  was  held,  when  the 
urgent  neeeilities  of  the  Tick  being  fully  confide- 
dered,  it  was  refolved  to  borrow  1500  dollars  of 
the  bank  of  North  America,  for  the  purpofe  of 
procuring  fuitable  accommodations  for  the  ufe 
of  perfons  afflicted  with  the  prevailing  malig- 
nant fever.  At  this  meeting,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  tranfact  the  whole  of  the  bufinefs 
relative  to  the  relief  of  the  lick,  and  the  procu- 
ring of  phyficians,  nurfes,  attendants,  &c.  This 
is  the  committee,  which,  by  virtue  of  that  ap- 
pointment, has  from  that  day  to  the  prefent 
time,  watched  over  the  fick,  the  poor,  the  wi- 
dow, and  the  orphan.  It  is  worthy  of  remark, 
and  may  encourage  others  in  times  of  public  ca- 
lamity, that  this  committee  confifted  originally 
of  only  twenty-fix  perfons,  men  taken  from 
the  middle  walks  of  life,  and  of  the  moderate 
pitch  of  abilities  ;  of  thefe,  four,  Andrew  Ad- 
gate,  Jonathan  Dickinfon  Sargeant,  Daniel  Ot- 
lley,  and  Jofeph  InpKeep,  died,  the  two  nrft  at 
an  early  period  of  their  labours — and  four  ne- 
ver attended  to  the  appointment.  "  The  heat 
and  burden  of  the  day"  have  therefore  been 
borne  by  eighteen  perfons,  whofe  exertions  have 

been  fo  highly    favoured  by  providence,  that 

H 


(     5«     ) 

they  have  been  the  inftruments  of  averting  the 
progrefs  of  deftruction,  eminently  relieving  the 
diftreffed,  and  reftoring  confidence  to  the  ter- 
rified inhabitants  of  Philadelphia.  It  is  honoura- 
ble to  this  committee,  that  from  the  time  of 
their  organization  to  the  prefent,  they  have  li- 
ved together  in  more  harmony  than  is  generally 
to  be  met  with  in  public  bodies  of  equal  num- 
ber. 

Never,  perhaps,  was  there  a  city  in  the  fitu- 
ation  of  Philadelphia  at  this  period.  The  prefi- 
dent  of  the  united  ftates,  according  to  his  an- 
nual culrom,  had  removed  to  Mount  Vernon, 
with  his  houfehold.  Moft,  if  not  all  of  the 
other  officers  of  the  federal  srovernment  were 
abfent.  The  governor,  who  had  been  fick,  had 
gone,  by  directions  of  his  phylician,  to  his  coun- 
try feat  near  the  falls  of  Schuylkill — and  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  officers  of  the  ftate  had  likewile 
retired. — The  magiftrates  of  the  city,  except 
the  mayor,  and  John  Barclay,  efq.  were  away,  as 
were  moft  of  thofe  of  the  liberties.  Of  the  fitua- 
tion  of  the  guardians  of  the  poor  I  have  already 
made  mention.  In  fact,  government  of  every 
kind  was  almoft  wholly  vacated,  and  feemed,  bv 
univerfal  confent,  to  be  veiled  in  the  committee. 


(     59     ) 

On  the  15th,  the  committee  refolved,  that 
three  members  of  their  board  mould  attend 
daily  at  the  city  hall,  to  receive  applications 
for  relief,  to  provide  for  the  burial  of  the  dead, 
and  the  conveyance  to  Buflihill  of  all  perfons  la- 
bouring under  the  fever,  who  might  be  willing 
to  go  there.  This  order  was  foon  refcinded,  it 
being  found  neceffary  for  all  the  members  to  at- 
tend at  the  hall. 

This  day,  a  circumftance  occurred,  to  which 
the  moft  glowing  pencil  could  hardly  do  juftice. 
Stephen  Girard,  a  wealthy  merchant,  a  native  of 
France,  touched  with  the  wretched  fituation  of 
the  fufferers  at  Bufh  hill,  voluntarily  and  unex- 
pectedly offered  to  fuperintend  that  hofpital.  The 
furprife  and  fatisfaction,  excited  by  this  extraor- 
dinary effort  of  humanity,  can  be  better  con- 
ceived than  expreffed.  Peter  Helm,  a  native  of 
Pennfylvania,  actuated  by  the  like  benevolent 
motives,  offered  his  fer vices  in  the  fame  depart- 
ment. Their  offers  were  accepted,  and  the  fame 
afternoon  they  entered  on  the  execution  of 
their  dangerous  and  praifeworthy  office. 

To  form  a  juft  eftimate  of  the  value   of  the 
offer  of  thefc  men,   it  is  neceffary  to  take  into 


6o 


full  confideration  the  general  confter nation, 
which  at  that  period  pervaded  every  quarter  of 
the  citv,  and  which  made  attendance  on  thefick 
be  regarded  as  little  lefs  than  a  certain  facrifice. 
Uninfluenced  by  any  reflexions  of  this  kind,with- 
out  anypoffible  inducement  but  the  pureft  motives 
of  humanity,  they  came  forward,  and  offered 
themfelves  as  the  forlorn  hope  of  the  committee, 
I  truft  that  the  gratitude  of  their  fellow  citizens 
will  remain  as  long  as  the  memory  of  their  bene- 
ficent condu<5L  which  I  hope  will  not  die  with  the 
prefent  generation.  While  I  am  on  this  fubject, 
let  me  add,  that  from  the  time  of  undertaking 
this  office  to  the  prefent,  they  have  attended  un- 
interruptedly,  for  fix,  feven,  or  eight  hours  a  day, 
renouncing  almoft  every  care  of  private  affairs. 
They  have  had  a  laborious  tour  of  duty  to 
perform— to  encourage  and  comfort  the  fick — to 
hand  them  neceffaries  and  medicines — to  wipe 
the  fweat  off  their  brows — and  to  perform 
many  difgufting  offices  of  kindnefs  for  them, 
which  nothing  could  render  tolerable,  but  the 
exalted  motives  that  impelled  them  to  this 
heroic  conduct. 

On  the  1 6th,  the  managers  of  BufhhiJl,  after 


(     6i     ) 

perfonal  infpccrion  of  the  ftate  of  affairs  there, 
made  report  of  its  fituatian,  which  was  truly 
deplorable.  It  exhibited  as  wretched  a  picture 
of  human  mifery  as  ever  exifted.  A  profligate, 
abandoned  fet  of  nurfes  and  attendants  (hardly 
any  of  good  character  could  at  that  time  be 
procured,)  rioted  on  the  provilions  and  com- 
forts, prepared  for  the  fick,  who  (unlefs  at  the 
hours  when  the  doctors  attended)  were  left  al- 
moft  entirely  deftitute  of  every  afliftance.  The 
dying  and  dead  were  indifcriminately  mingled 
together.  The  ordure  and  other  evacuations  of 
the  fick,  were  allowed  to  remain  in  the  moft 
dffenfive  ftate  imaginable.  Not  the  fmalleft  ap- 
pearance of  order  of  regularity  exifted.  It  was, 
in  fa<5t,  a  great  human  flausrhter  houfe,  where 
numerous 'victims  were  immolated  at  the  altar 
of  riot  and  intemperance.  No  wonder,  then, 
that  a  general  dread  of  the  place  prevailed 
through  the  city,  and  that  a  removal  to  it  was 
confidered  as  the  feal  of  death.  In  confequence, 
there  were  various  inftances  of  fick  perfons 
locking  their  rooms,  and  refitting  every  attempt 
to  carry  them  away.  At  length,  the  poor  were 
fo  much  afraid  of  being  fent  to  Bufhhill,  that 
they  would  not  acknowledge  their  illnefs,  'till 


(       62       ) 

it  was  no  longer  poflible  to  conceal  it.  For  it  is 
to  be  obferved,  that  the  fear  of  the  contagion 
was  fo  prevalent,  that  as  foon  as  any  one  was 
taken  fick,  an  alarm  was  fpread  among  the 
neighbours,  and  every  effort  was  ufed  to  have 
the  fick  perfon  hurried  off  to  Bufhhill,  to  avoid 
fpreading  the  diforder.  The  cafes  of  poor  peo- 
ple forced  in  this  way  to  that  hofpital, 
though  labouring  under  only  common  colds, 
and  common  fall  fevers,  are  numerous  and  af- 
flicting. There  were  not  wanting  inftances  of 
perfons,  only  flightly  ill,  being  fent  to  Bufhhill, 
by  their  panic-ftruck  neighbours,  and  embra- 
cing the  firft  opportunity  of  running  back  to 
Philadelphia.  But  the  cafe  was  foon  altered  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  two  managers,  Girard 
and  Helm.  They  introduced  fuch  order  and 
regularity,  and  had  the  patients  treated  with  fo 
much  care  and  tendernefs,  that  they  retrieved 
the  character  of  the  hofpital ;  and  in  the  courfe 
of  a  week  or  two,  numbers  of  fick  people,  who 
had  not  at  home  proper  perfons  to  nurfe  them, 
applied  to  be  fent  to  Bufhhill.  Indeed,  in  the  end 
fo  many  people,  who  were  afHicted  with  other 
diforders,  procured  admittance  there,  that  it  be- 
came neceflary  to  pafs  a  refolve,   that  before  an 


(     «3     ) 

order  of  admiffion  Ihould  be  granted,  a  certifi- 
cate mull  be  produced  from  a  phylician,  that 
the  patient  laboured  under  the  malignant  fever. 

The  committee  fat  daily  at  the  city  hall,  and 
engaged  a  number  of  carts  to  convey  the  dead 
to  a  place  of  interment,  and  the  lick  to  the  hof- 
pital.  From  their  organization  to  the  prefent 
time,  they  have  mod  unremittingly  attended 
to  the  difcharge  of  the  trull  repofed  in  them. 
Neither  the  regular  increafe  of  deaths  till  to- 
wards the  middle  of  October,  nor  the  afflicting 
lofs  of  four  very  active  members,  in  quick  fuc- 
ceflion,  appalled  them.  That  the  mortality  would 
have  been  incomparably  greater,  but  for  their 
active  interpolation,  is  beyond  doubt ;  as  moll 
of  thofe  who  went  to  Bulhhill,  and  died  there, 
would  have  otherwife  died  in  the  city,  and 
fpread  the  contagion :  and  the  dead  bodies 
would  have  remained  putrifying  in  deferted 
houfes  in  every  part  of  the  city,  and  operated 
as  dreadfully  as  the  plague  itfelf.  In  fact;,  at  the 
time  they  entered  on  the  execution  of  the  dan- 
gerous office  they  undertook,  there  were  found 
feveral  bodies  that  had  lain  in  this  Hate  for  two, 
three,  and  four  days. 


(  64  ) 

In  the  progreis  of  the  diibrder,  the  committee 
found  the  calls  on  their  humanity  increafe.  The 
numerous  deaths  of  heads  of  families  left  a  very- 
large  body  of  children  in  a  moll  abandoned,  for- 
lorn Rate.  The  bettering  houfe,  in  which  fuch 
helplefs  objects  have  been  ufually  placed  hereto- 
fore, was  barred  againft  them,  by  the  order  which 
I  have  already  mentioned.  Many  of  thefe  little- 
innocents  were  actually  fuffering  for  want  of 
even  common  necefTaries.  The  deaths  of  their 
parents  and  protectors,  which  fhouid  have  been 
the  ftrongeit  recommendation  to  public  charity, 
was  the  very  reafon  of  their  diftrefs,  and  of  their 
being  fhunned  as  a  peftilence.  The  children  of  a 
family  once  in  eafy  circumftances,  were  found 
in  a  blackfmith's  mop,  fqualid,  dirty,  and  half 
ftarved,  having;  been  for  a  confiderable  time 
without  even  bread  to  eat.  Various  inftanccs  of 
a  fimilar  nature  occurred.  This  evil  early  caught 
the  attention  of  the  committee ;  and  on  the  1 9th 
of  September,  they  hired  a  houfe  in  Fifth-itreet, 
in  which  they  placed  thirteen  children.  The 
number  increafmg,  on  the  3d  of  October,  they 
procured  the  Loganian  library,  which  was  ge« 
neroufly  given  up  by  John  Swanwick,  Efq.  for 
the  purpofe  of  an  orphan  houfe.  A  further   in- 


(     6S     ) 

creafe  of  their  little  charge,  rendered  it  heceffary 
to  build  fome  additions  to  the  library,  which  are 
how  finifhed,  and  are  nearly  half  as  large  as  that 
building.  At  prefent,  there  are-  in  the  houfe,  un- 
der the  care  of  the  orphan  committee,  above 
eighty  children,  and  about  forty  are  out  with 
wet  nurfes.  From  the  origin  of  the  inftitution, 
One  hundred  and  lixty  children  have  fallen  un- 
der their  care,  of  whom  (even  are  dead,  all  of 
Whom,  except  one,  were  fucking  children  ;  and 
about  thirty  have  been  delivered  to  their  relati- 
ons or  friends.  There  are  inftances  of  five  and 
fix  children  of  a  fingle  family  in  the  houfe. 

Another  duty  foort  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  committee.  The  flight  of  fo  many  of  our  ci- 
tizens, the  confequent  ftagnation  of  bulinefs,  and 
the  almoft  total  ceflation  of  the  labours  of  the 
guardians  of  the  poor,  brought  on  among  the 
lower  claifes  of  the  people,  a  great  degree  of 
diftrefs,  which  loudly  demanded  the  interpofi- 
tion  of  the  humane.  In  confequence,  on  the 
20th  of  September,  a  fub-committee  of  diftribu- 
tion  was  appointed,  to  furnifh  fuch  afiiftance  to 
deferving  objects  as  their  refpeclive  cafes  might*. 

I 


(     <*     ) 

require,  and  the  funds  allow*.  This  was  at  firit 
.idminiftered  fparingly,  owing  to  the    confined 
ftate  of  their  finances.  But  the  very  extraordi- 
nary liberality  of  our  fugitive  fellow  citizens,  of 
the  citizens  of  New  York,  and  of  thofe  of  va- 
rious towns    and   townihips,    encouraged    the 
committee  to  extend  their  views.  And  frequent 
impolitions  being  attempted  on  them,  they,  on 
the  14th  of  October,  called  to  their  affiftance  a 
number  of  refpect. able  characters  in  the  different 
parts  of  the  city  and  liberties,  to  feek  out  and 
give  recommendations  to   deferving  objects  in 
diflrefs.  Thefe  gentlemen  have  undertaken  this 
troublefome  office,  which  they  execute  with  fo 
much  drcumfpection,   as  to  defeat  the  arts  of 
impoftors.    At  prefent,  there  are  about  twelve 
hundred  people  relieved  weekly,  moft  of  whom 
have  confiderable   families,  fome  of  four,  fix, 
and  eight  perfons.  The  number,  therefore,  de- 
pending on  the  committee  for  affiftance,  is  pro- 
bably above  four  thoufand.  The  -gradual  revival 

NOTE. 

*  They  had,  in  addition  to  the  firft  loan  from  the  bank 
ofNrfrth  America,  borrowed  jcoo  dollars  from  thefatn*. 
inftitutio-n,  making  in  the  whole  6500. 


*» 


(     G7     ) 

of  bufinefs  promifes  to  refcue  fome  of  thefe  peo- 
ple fpeedily  from  the  humiliation  of  a  depen- 
dence on  public  charity  ;  and  the  organization 
of  the  guardians  of  the  poor  will  make  provifi- 
on  for  the  remainder. 

From  this  time,  the  proceedings  of  the  com- 
mittee went  on  in  a  regular,  uniform  tenor, 
every  day  like  the  paft,  without  any  thing  re- 
markable occurring,  worth  recording.  For  above 
five  weeks  of  the  time  they  have  been  employ- 
ed, the  moft  dreary  profpecb  appeared  before 
them.  The  number  of  perfons  to  be  removed  to 
Buihhill  daily,  was  for  a  long  time  from  twenty 
to  thirty — and  the  number  to  be  buried  by 
their  carters,  was  often  equal.  Thefe  two  cir- 
cumftances,  the  removals  to  the  hofpital,  and 
the  perfons  buried  from  the  city-hall,  were  re- 
garded as  the  barometer,  by  which  to  judge  of 
the  ftate  of  the  difeafe  ;  and  in  general  they 
were  ajuft  one. 

The  week,  beginning  Sunday  the  27th  of 
October,  proved  for  the  moft  part  cold  and  raw. 
Northerly  winds  generally  prevailed.  Thurfday 
and  Friday,  there  was  a  confiderable  fall  of  rain 


(     68     ) 

A  vifible  alteration  has  already  taken    place  in 
the  ftate  of  affairs  in  the  city.  Our  friends  return 
in  crouds.  Every  hour,  long-abfent  and  welcome 
faces  appear — rand   in   many  inftances,  thofe  of 
perfons,  whom  public  fame  has  buried  for  weeks 
paft.  The  ftores,  fo  long  clofed,  are  opening  f aft- 
Some  of  the  country  merchants,,  bolder  than 
others,  are  daily  venturing  in  to  their  old  place 
of  fupply.  Market-ftreet  is  almqft  as  full  of  wag^ 
sons  as  ufual.  The  cuftam  houfe,  for  weeks  near- 
ly deferted  by  our  mercantile  people,  is  throng? 
ed  by   citizens  entering  their  veflels  and  goods 
— the  ftreets,  too  l°ng  the  abode  of  gloom  and 
defpair,    have   affumed  the   buftle   fuitable  to 
the  feafon.    The  arrival  in  the  city  of  our  be- 
loved prefident  gives   us  a  flattering   profpecl: 
of   the  next   feflion    of    congrefs  being    held 
here.     And,  in    fine,  as   every   thing,   in  the 
early  ftage  of  the    diforder,   feemed   calculated 
to  add  to  the  general  confirmation  ;  fo  now,  on 
the  contrary,  every  circumftance  has  a  tendency 
to  revive  the  courage  and  hopes  of  our  citizens. 
But  we  have  to  lament,  that  the  fame  fpirit   of 
exaggeration  and  lying,  that  prevailed  at  a  for- 
mer period,  and  was  the  grand  caufe  of  the 
harm  meafures  adopted  by  our  fifler  flates?  has 


*^ 


(     69     ) 

not  ceafed  to  operate ;  for  at  the  prefent  mo* 
.ment,  when  the  danger  is  entirely  done  away, 
the  credulous  of  our  own  citizens  Hill  abfent, 
and  of  the  country  people,  are  ftiil  alarmed  by 
frightful  rumours,  of  the  diforder  raging  with 
as  much  violence  as  ever  ;  of  numbers  carried 
off,  a  few  hours  after  their  return ;  and  of  new 
cafes  daily  occurring.  To  what  defign  to  attri- 
bute thefe  mameful  tales,  I  know  not.  Were  I  to 
regard  them  in  a  fpirit  of  refentment,  I  mould 
be  inclined  to  charge  them  to  fome  fecret,  inter- 
efted  views  of  their  authors,  intent,  if  poffible, 
to  effect  the  entire  deflruction  of  our  city.  But 
I  will  not  allow  myfelf  to  confider  them  in  this 
point  of  light— r-and  will  even  fuppofe  they  arife 
from  a  pronenefs  to  terrific  narration,  natural 
to  fome  men.  But  they  mould  confider,  that  we 
are  in  the  fituation  of  the  frogs  in  the  fable — 
while  thefe  tales,  which  make  the  hair  of  the 
country  people  ftand  on  end,  are  fport  to  the  fa- 
bricators, they  are  death  to  us.  And  I  here  affert, 
and  defy  contradiction,  that  of  the  whole  num- 
ber of  our  fugitive  citizens,  who  have  already 
returned,  amounting  to  fome  thoufands,  not 
above  two  are  dead — and  thefe  owe  their  fate 
to   the   moft  fhameful  neglect  of  airing   and 


(     7°     ) 

cleanfing  their  houfes,  notwithstanding  the  vari* 
ous  cautions  publiftied  by  the  committee.  If  peo- 
ple will  venture  into  houfes  in  which  infected  air 
has  been  pent  up  for  weeks  together,  without 
any  purification,  we  cannot  be  furprized  at  the 
confequences,  however  fatal  they  may  be.  But 
let  not  the  cataftrophe  of  a  few  incautious  per- 
fons  operate  to  bring  difcredit  on  a  city  contain, 
ing  above  fifty  thoufand  people. 

At  the  time  of  writing  thefe  lines,  the  ioth  of 
November,  the  committee  look  forward  with 
pleafure  to  the  moment  of  furrendering  up  their 
truft  to  a  town  meeting  of  their  fellow  citizens, 
the  conftituents  by  whom  they  were  called  into 
the  extraordinary  office  they  have  filled.  To 
them  they  will  give  an  account  of  their  ftew- 
ardftiip  in  a  time  of  diftrefs,  the  like  of  which 
heaven  avert  from  the  people  of  America  for- 
ever. They  hope  a  candid  conftruction  will  be 
put  upon  their  conduct — and  that  it  will  be  be- 
lieved that  they  have  acted  in  every  cafe  that 
has  come  under  their  cognizance,  according 
to  the  beft  of  their  judgment. 

The  fympathy  for  our  calamities  difplayed  in 


(    7'     ) 

various  places,  reflects  the  higheft  honour  0*» 
their  inhabitants,  and  demands  our  warmeft 
gratitude.  The  inhabitants  of  Gloucefter  county 
in  New  Jerfey,  have  the  honour  of  being  liril 
in  this  laudable  race.  So  early  as  the  30th  of 
September,  they  had  a  confiderable  fum  collect- 
ed, with  which  they  purchafed  a  quantity  of 
provifions  for  the  ufe  of  the  hofpital  at  Bufh- 
hill.  They  have  from  that  time  regularly  con-* 
tinued  copious  fupplies  twice  a  week*  From  a 
few  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  near  Germantown, 
there  have  been  received  two  thoufand  dollars  5 
from  others  near  Darby,  fourteen  hundred  j 
from  New  York,  five  thoufand  ;  from  a  perfon 
unknown,  five  hundred ;  from  Buck^.'  county 
fixteen  hundred  ;  from  Delaware  county  twelve 
hundred  -y  from  Franklin  county  nearly  five  hun- 
dred ;  from  Bofton  fundry  articles,  eftimated 
.  at  twenty-five  hundred  ;  and  from  fundry  other 
perfons  and  places,  contributions  equally  libera  1 
and  honourable. 

The  diforder  raged  with  increafed  violence,  as 
the  feafon  advanced  towards  the  mild  fall 
months.  In  the  month  of  September,  the  mor- 
tality was  much  greater  than  in  Auguft ;  and 
ftill  greater  in  October,  to  the  25th,  than  in  Sep- 


(  r-  ) 

tcinbcr.  What  is  very  particularly  worthy  of 
attention,  is,  that  though  all  the  hopes  of  thd 
citizens  refted  on  cold  and  rain*  efpecially  thd 
latter,  yet  the  diforder  was  extinguiflied  with 
hardly  any  rain,  and  a  very  moderate  degree  of 
cold.  The  26th  may  be  fet  down  as  the  day 
when  the  virulence  of  the  fever  expired.  The 
deaths  afterwards  were  moftly  of  thofe 
long  fick*  Hardly  any  perfons  have  fince  ta- 
ken it.  That  day  was  as  warm  as  many  of  the 
mod  fatal  ones  in  the  early  part  of  the  month. 
To  account  for  this  is  perhaps  above  our  power. 
In  face,  the  whole  of  the  diforder,  from  its  firfl 
appearance  to  its  final  clofe,  has  fet  human  wif- 
dom  and  calculation  at  defiance. 

Rarely  has  it  happened,  that  fo  large  a  pro* 
portion  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  faculty  have 
funk  beneath  the  labours  of  their  very  danger 
rous  profeilion,  as  on  this  occafion.  In  little  more 
than  a  month,  exclufive  of  medical  Undents,  no" 
lefs  than  ten  phyficians  have  been  fwept  off,  doc- 
tors Hutchinfon,  Morris,  Linn,  Pennington, 
Dodds,  Johnfon,  Glentworth,  Phile,  Graham, 
and  Green.  Hardly  one  of  the  practifing  doctors 
that  remained  in  tne  city,  efcaped  ficknefs — • 
feme  were  three,  four,  and  five  times  confined* 


(    73     ) 

To  the  clergy  it  has  likewife  proved  very 
fatal.  Expofed,  in  the  exercife  of  the  laft  duties 
to  the  dying,  to  equal  danger  with  the  phyfici- 
ans,  it  is  not  furpriling  that  fo  many  of  them 
have  fallen.  Their  names  are,  the  rev.  Alexander 
Murry,  of  the  proteftant  epifcopal  church — the 
rev.  F.  A.  Fleming  and  the  rev.  Laurence 
Graefsl  of  the  Roman  catholic — the  rev.  John 
Winkhaufe,  of  the  German  reformed — the  rev. 
James  Sproat,  of  the  prefoyterian — the  rev. 
William  Dougherty,  of  the  methodift  church — 
and  five  preachers  of  the  Friends  fociety,  Da- 
niel Offley,  Hufon  Langftroth,  Michael  Minier, 
Rebecca  Jones,  and  Charles  Williams.  Seven 
clergymen  have  been  in  the  greater!  danger 
from  this  diforder,  the  rev.  R.  Blackwell,  rev. 
Jofeph  Pilmore,  rev.  William  Rogers,  rev. 
Chriftopher  V.  Keating,  rev.  Frederic  Schmidt, 
the  rev.  Jofeph  Turner,  and  the  rev.  Robert 
Annan  ;  but  they  have  all  recovered. 

Among  the  women,  the  mortality  has  not  by 
any  means  beenfo  great,  as  among  the   men*. 

NOTE. 

*  In  many  congregations  the  deaths  of  men  have  been 
twice  as  numerous  as  thofe  of  women. 

K 


(     74     ) 


nor  among  the  old  and  infirm  as  among  the  mid- 
dle-aged and  robuft. 

To  tipplers  and  drunkards,  and  to  men  who 
lived  high,  and  were  of  a  corpulent  habit  of 
body,  this  diforder  was  very  fatal.  Of  thefe, 
many  were  feized,  and  the  recoveries  were  very 
rare. 

To  the  jilles  dejoie,  it  has  been  equally  fatal. 
The  wretched  debilitated  ftate  of  their  conftitu- 
tions,  rendered  them  an  eafy  prey  to  this  dread- 
ful diforder,  which  very  foon  terminated  their 
miferable  career. 

it  has  been  dreadfully  deftructive  among  the 
poor.  It  is  very  probable,  that  at  leaft  feven 
eighths  of  the  number  of  the  dead,  were  of 
that  clafs.  The  inhabitants  of  dirty  houfes 
have  feverely  expiated  their  neglect  of  cleanli- 
nefs  and  decency,  by  the  numbers  of  them  that 
have  fallen  facrifices.  Whole  families  in  fuch 
houfes  have  funk  into  one  filent,  undiftinguifh- 
ing  grave. 

The  mortality  in  confined   flreets,  fmall  al- 


(     75     ) 

lies,   and  clofe  houfes,   debarred  of  a  free  circu- 
lation of  air,  has  exceeded,  in  a  great  proportion, 
that  in  the  large  ftreets  and  well-aired  houfes.  In 
fome  of  the  allies,  a  third  or  fourth  of  the  whole 
of  the  inhabitants  are  no  more.  In  30  houfes,  the 
whole  number  in  Pewter  Platter  alley,  32  peo- 
ple died:   and  in  Market-ftreet,    in  170   houfes, 
only  39.  The  ftreets  in  the  fuburbs  that  had  the 
benefit  of  the  country  air,  efpecially  towards  the 
weft  part  of  the  city,  have  fuffered  little.  Of  the 
wide,  airy  flreets,  none  loft  fo  many   people  as 
Arch,  near  Water-ftreet,  which  may  be  account- 
ed for  by  its  proximity  to  the  original  feat  of  the 
diforder.  It  is  to  be  particularly  remarked,  that 
in  general,  the  more  remote  the  ftreets  were 
from  Water  ftreet,  the   lefs  they    experienced 
of  the  calamity. 

From  the  effects  of  this  diforder,  the  French 
fettled  in  Philadelphia,  have  been  in  a  very  re- 
markable degree  exempt.  To  what  this  may  be 
owing,  is  a  fubject  deferring  particular  inveftiga- 
tion.  By  fome  it  has  been  afcribed  to  their  de- 
fpifing  the  danger.  But,  though  this  may  have 
had  fome  effect,  it  will  not  certainly  account 
for  it   altogether  ;   as  it    is  well    known  that 


(     76     ) 

many  of  the  moft  courageous  perfons  in  Phila- 
delphia, have  been  among  its  victims.  By  many 
of  the  French,  the  prevalence  and  mortality  of 
the  diforder  have  been  attributed  to  the  vaft 
quantities  of  crude  and  unwholefome  fruits 
brought  to  Our  markets,  and  confumed  by  all 
piaffes  of  people. 

The  effect  of  fear  in  predifpofing  the  body 
for  this  and  other  diforders,  and  increafing  their 
malignance,  when  taken,  is  well  known.  The 
following  exception  to  the  general  rule,  for  the 
truth  of  which  I  pledge  myfelf,  is  curious  and 
inter  effing.  A  young  woman,  whofe  fears  were 
fb  very  prevalent,  as  not  only  to  render  her  un- 
happy from  the  commencement  of  the  diforder, 
but  even  to  interfere  with  the  happinefs  of  the 
family  with  whom  ihe  lived,  had  to  attend  on 
feven  perfons,  all  of  whom  were  in  a  very  dan- 
gerous ftate,  and  one  of  whom  died.  Her  at- 
tendance was  affiduous  and  unremitted  for 
nearly  three  weeks.  Yet  me  has  never  been  in 
the  ilighteft  degree  affected. 

At  an  early  Itage  of  the  diforder,   the  elders 
of  the  African  church  met,   and  offered  their 


(    77     ) 

fervices  to  the  mayor,  to  procure  mirfes  for 
the  fick,  and  to  aflift  in  burying  the  dead. 
Their  offers  were  accepted ;  and  Abfalom  Jones 
and  Richard  Allen  undertook  the  former  de- 
partment, that  of  furniihing  nurfes,  and  Wil- 
liam Gray,  the  latter — the  interment  of  the 
dead.  The  great  demand  for  nurfes  afforded 
an  opportunity  for  impofition,  which  was  eager- 
ly feized  by  fome  of  the  vileft  of  the  blacks. 
They  extorted  two;  three,  four,  and  even  five 
dollars  a  night  for  attendance,  which  would 
have  been  well  paid  by  a  fingle  dollar.  Some  of 
them  were  even  detected  in  plundering  the 
houfes  of  the  fick.  But  it  is  wrong  to  caft  a 
cenfure  on  the  whole  for  this  fort  of  conduct,  as 
many  people  have  done.  The  fervices  of  Jones, 
Allen,  and  Gray,  and  others  of  their  colour, 
have  been  very  great,  and  demand  public  grati- 
tude. 

When  the  yellow  fever  prevailed  in  South 
Carolina,  the  negroes,  according  to  that  accu- 
rate obferver,  Dr.  Lining,  were  wholly  free 
from  it.  "  There  is  fomething  very  lingular 
"  in  the  constitution  of  the  negroes,"  fays  he, 
"  which  renders  them  not  liable  to  this  fever  : 


C    78    ) 

ct  for  though  many  of  them  were  as  much  ex- 
"  pofed  as  the  nurfes  to  this  infection  ;  yet  I 
"  never  knew  one  inftance  of  this  fever  among 
/'  them,  though  they  are  equally  fubjecl  with 
a  the  white  people  to  the  bilious  fever."*  The 
fame  idea  prevailed  for  a  confiderable  time  in 
Philadelphia  ;  but  it  was  erroneous.  They  did 
not  efcape  the  diforder  ;  however,  the  number 
of  them  that  were  feized  with  it,  was  not  great  5 
and,  as  I  am  informed  by  an  eminent  doctor, 
cc  it  yielded  to  the  power  of  medicine  in  them 
IC  more  eafily  than  in  the  whites." 

Thofe  who  reflect  on  the  many  revolting  ca- 
fes of  cruelty  and  defertion  of  friends  and  re- 
lations which  occurred  in  Philadelphia,  how- 
ever they  may  regret,  cannot  be  furprifed,  that 
in  the  country  and  in  various  towns  and  cities, 
inhumanity  mould  be  experienced  by  Philadel- 
phians  from  ftrangers.  The  univerfal  coniter- 
nation  extinguifhed  in  people's  breads  the 
moft  honourable  feelings  of  human  nature  ; 
and  in  this  cafe,  as  in   various  others,  the    fuf- 

N    O    T    E. 
*  Efijvs  and  obfervations,  \ol.  II.  page  407. 


(     79     ) 

picion  operated  as  injurioufly  as  the  reality. 
Many  travellers  from  this  city,  exhaufted  with 
fatigue  and  with  hunger,  have  been  refufed 
all  fhelter  and  all  fuftenance,  and  have  fallen 
victims  to  the  fears,  not  to  the  want  of  cha- 
rity, of  thofe  to  whom  they  applied  for  re- 
lief. Initances  of  this  kind  have  occurred  on 
alrnoft:  every  road  leading  from  Philadelphia. 
People  under  fufpicion  of  having  this  diforder, 
have  been  forced  by  their  fellow  travellers  to 
quit  the  ftages,  and  perifhed  in  the  woods 
without  a  poffibility  of  procuring  any  affiflance. 
At  Eafton,  in  Maryland,  a  waggon-load  of 
goods  from  Philadelphia,  was  actually  burn- 
ed ;  and  a  woman,  who  came  with  it,  was  tar- 
red and  feathered*. 

There  is  one  fact  refpecting  this  diforder, 
which  renders  it  probable,  that  the  exercife  of 
the  duties  of  humanity  towards  the  fugitive 
Philadelphians,  would  not  have  been  attended 
with  the  danger  univerfally  imagined.  In  defi- 

n    o    T    E. 

*  Through  mifin formation,  this  atrocious  circumftance 
was  ftatecl  i-n  the  former  edition  to  have  happened  aj 
Milford,  in  Delaware  ftate. 


(     8o     ) 

ance  of  all  the  refolutions  entered  into  by  the  in- 
habitants of  various  towns,  many  of  our  infect- 
ed citizens  evaded  their  vigilance,  and  took  re- 
fuge among  them,  and  in  only  one  or  two  ca- 
fes is  it  known  that  they  communicated  the 
infection — and  even  in  thefe  not  mortally. 
Three  perfons  from  Philadelphia  died  of  this 
diforder,  in  one  houfe  at  Woodbury,  in  New 
Jerfey  ;  they  had  been  attended  during  their 
illnefs  by  the  family,  none  of  whom  caught  the 
infection.  Six  or  feven  died  at  Darby,  as  ma- 
ny at  Germantown,  and  eight  at  Haddonfield, 
without  communicating  it  to  any  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. A  man  from  Philadelphia,  of  the  name 
of  Cornell,  died  in  New  York,  about  two  days 
after  his  arrival.  The  place  of  his  death  was 
a  boarding  houfe,  in  which  were  a  number  of 
boarders,  one  of  whom  flept  in  the  fame  bed 
with  him.  Two  of  the  family  only  were  {light- 
ly affected — but  not  in  fuch  a  degree  as  to  re- 
quire medical  aid.  Three  other  infected  per- 
fons from  our  city,  who,  when  difcovered, 
were  removed  to  Governor's  ifland,  died  there, 
and  no  one  took  the  diforder  from  them.  A 
man  died  at  one  of  the  principal  taverns  in  Bal- 
timore, of  the  fame  diforder.  Many  people  had 


(     8'     ) 

vifited  and  attended  him  during  the  whole  of 
his  illnefs,  without  injury.  No  perfon  was  af- 
fected but  his  doctor,  whofe  indifpofition  was 
not  of  long  continuance.  A  great  number  of 
fimilar  inffcances  have  occurred  at  Burlington, 
Bordenton,  Lamberton,  Princeton  Brunfwic, 
Woodbridge,  Newark,  Lancafter,  and  various 
other  places,  and  in  no  cafe,  except  thofe  at  Bal- 
timore and  New  York,  has  the  infection  fpread. 

The  terror  that  prevailed  in  Philadelphia, 
and  which  was  fpread  through  the  continent, 
arofe  from  the  fatality  of  the  diforder  at  firft, 
very  few  of  thofe  who  took  it  then  having  efca- 
ped.  This,  with  all  deference  to  the  medical 
gentlemen,  arofe  probably  from  their  being  un- 
acquainted  with  it.  That  this  Was  the  cafe,  is 
candidly  acknowledged  by  feveral  of  the  moll 
eminent  among  them.  The  fact  is,  that  the  ter- 
ror was  at  no  time  greater,  than  about  the  end 
of  Augufl,  at  which  period,  the  deaths  did  not 
very  far  exceed  the  ufual  number  in  that  month. 
When  the  mortality  raged  mod  dreadfully, 
from  the  middle  of  September  to  the  middle  of 
Olober,  the  public  were  much  lefs  alarmed, 
owing  to  the  occurrence  of  feveral  recoveries, 

L 


(       »2       ) 

and  their  becoming  callous  by  the  force  of  ha- 
bit. During  this  time  it  was,  that  all  the  fpon- 
ges,  fmelling  bottles,  handkerchiefs  fteeped  in 
vinegar,  camphor  bags,  &c.   difappeared. 

The  ftate  of  the  police  and  of  fociety  in  Phila- 
delphia, appears  to  no  fmall  advantage,  when 
we  confider  one  circumftance.  Notwithftanding 
the  abfence  of  the  magistrates,  and  the  immenfe 
value  of  property  left  unprotected  through  the 
fears  of  the  owners,,  and  the  deaths  of  the  per- 
fons  left  to  take  care  of  it,  we  have  as  yet  heard 
of  only  one  or  two  burglaries  committed. — 
Another  was  attempted,  but  the  plunderers 
were  difcovered  and  taken.  A  hardened  villain 
from  a  neighbouring  ftate,  formed  a  plot  with 
fome  negroes  to  plunder  houfes.  He  was  a  mafter 
rogue,  had  digefted-  a  complete  fyftem,  and 
formed  a  large  partnerfhip  for  the  more  fuccefs- 
ful  execution  of  his  fchemes.  However  he  was 
foon  feized,  and;  the  company  diffolved. 

The  jail  of  Philadelphia  is  under  fuch  excel- 
lent regulation,  that  the  diforder  made  its  ap- 
pearance there  only  in  two  or  three  inftances, 
^though  fuch  abodes  of  mifery  are  the   place* 


(     »3     ) 

where  contagious  diforders  are  moft  commonly 
generated.  When  the  yellow  fever  raged  moft 
violAtly  in  the  city,  there  were  in  the  jail  one 
hundred  and  fix  French  foldiers  and  failors, 
confined  by  order  of  the  French  conful,  be- 
fides  eighty  convi&s,  vagrants,  and  perfons 
for  trial  ;  all  of  whom,  except  two  or  three, 
remained  perfectly  free  from  the  complaint. 
Several  circumftances  have  confpired  to  pro- 
duce this  falutary  effedl.  The  people  confined 
are  frequently  cleanfed  and  purified  by  the  ufe 
of  the  cold  bath — they  are  kept  conftantly  em- 
ployed—vegetables form  a  confiderable  part  of 
their  diet — in  the  yard,  vegetation  flourifiies 
— and  many  of  them  being  employed  in  flone 
cutting,  the  water,  conftantly  running,  keeps 
the  atmofphere  in  a  moift  flate,  while  the  peo- 
ple of  Philadelphia  have  been  uninterruptedly 
parched  up  by  unceafing  heat.  Elijah  Weed, 
the  late  jailor,  caught  the  diforder  in  the  city, 
in  the  performance  of  the  paternal  duties  to- 
wards his  daughter,  and  died  in  Jthe  jail, 
without  communicating  it  to  any  of  the  people 
confined.  I  hope  I  fhall  be  pardoned  for  pay- 
ing a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  this  valuable 
citizen,   under  whofe  government  of  the  jail. 


(     34     ) 

and  with  whofe  hearty  co-operation,  moifc  of 
the  regulations  in    that  inflitution  have*  been 
effected,    which,   with   the    fuccefsful  e^eri- 
ments  made  in  England,    prove  that  jails  may- 
be eafily  converted  from  finks  of  human  depra- 
vity and  wretchednefs,  into  places  of  reforma- 
tion ;  fo  that,    inftead    of  rendering   the    idle 
vagrant,    confined  merely  on  fufpicion,   or  for 
want    of    friends    to  protect  •  him,     obdurate, 
wicked,   and    ripe    for  rapine    and   fpoil,    the 
profligate  and  abandoned  may  leave   them  in  a 
Situation  to  become  ufeful  members  of  fociety. 
For  the  honour  of  human  nature,  it  ought  to 
be  recorded,  that  fome  of  the  convicts  in   the 
jail,  a  part  of  the  term  of  whofe  confinement 
had  been  remitted  as  a  reward  for  their  peace- 
able,   orderly   behaviour,   voluntarily    offered 
themfelves  as  nurfes  to  attend  the  fick  at  Bum- 
hill,    and    have     in    that    capacity   conducted 
themfelves  with   fo   much  fidelity  and  tender- 
nefs,   that  they  have  had  the  repeated   thanks 
of  the  managers.  Among  them  are  {bine  who 
were  formerly  regarded,  and  withjuflice,  ashar- 
dened  abandoned  villains,  which  the  old  fyflem 
was  calculated  to  make  every  tenant  of  a  jail, 
who  remained    there  a  icw  weeks.  According 


(    8}    ) 

to  the  fame.fummary  fyftem,  thefe  men's  lives 
would  have  been  long  fmce  offered  up  as  an 
atonement  to  fociety  for  the  injury  they  had 
done  it.  That  is,  in  plain  Englifh,  be cnufe  fo- 
ciety had  fullered  one  injury  by  rapine,  if 
was  neceffary  it  mould  fuffer  another  by  law- 
But  by  the  improved  plan,  they  and  great  num- 
bers of  others  are  reflored  to  fociety  and 
ufefulnefs  once  more.  So  much  better,  although 
not  quite  fo  eafy,  is  it  to  reform  men,  than  to 
butcher  them  under  colour  of  law  and  jufrice. 

In  the  fumm-r  of  179 1,  the  yellow  fever  pre- 
vailed in  New  York,  in  a  part  of  Water-ftreet  ; 
and  in  proportion  to  the  iphere  of  its  aftion 
was  as  fatal  there  as  it  has  been  here.  It  began 
in  Auguft,  and  continued  till  the  middle  of 
September,  when  it  totally  difappeared,  and 
has  never  (ince  vifited  that  place.  This  fhould 
eafe  the  fears  of  many  among  us,  who,  always 
viewing  the  black  fide  of  every  thing,  terrify 
people  with  their  prognoftications,  that  we 
mail  have  it  again  next  fpring  or  fummer. 
All  the  fyrnptoms  were  full  as  dangerous  and 
alarming  in  New  York,  as  in  Philadelphia. 
Many  peribns  died  in   three    days  ;  u  fhipor, 


(     86     ) 

u  delirium,  yellownefs,  the  black  .vomit,  and 
ct  death',  rapidly  fucceeding  each  other. "$  Jt 
fpread  no  farther  at  that  time,  than  the  one 
ftreet,  although  no  precautions,  as  far  as  I  can 
learn,  were  taken  to  prevent  its  extenfion. 
The  fame  fpecies  of  diforder  raged  in  this  city 
in  1762,  with  great  violence.  It  difappearedin 
the  month  of  November,  and  has  not  from 
that  time  until  the  prefent  year  vifited  Phila- 
delphia. 

The  fummer  and  fall  of  this  year  have  been 
unhealthy  in  many  parts  of  the  union,  as  well 
as  in  Philadelphia.  At  Lynn,  in  MafTachufetts, 
I  have  been  informed,  but  have  no  means  of 
afcertaining  the  truth  or  falfehood  of  the  re- 
port, that  a  malignant  fever,  not  unlike  ours, 
prevailed  in  Auguft.  In  many  of  the  towns  of 
Virginia,  fevers  and  agues  have  been  much 
more  prevalent  and  dangerous  then  they  have 
been  at  former  periods.  Georgetown  and  its 
vicinity, which  are  in  general  very  healthy,  loft, 

note. 

i  Letter  from  a  phyfician  in  New  York,  to  his  friend 
in  New  Jerfey,   Federal  Gazette,  Sept.  21,  1793. 


(     87     ) 

in  the  courfe  of  a  few  weeks  in  fummer,  an  un- 
exampled number  of  people  by  the  flux,  which 
diforder  has  raged  with  great  violence  in  many 
other  places.  The  influenza  has  fpread  general- 
ly through  the  union,  and  been  very  fatal.  It 
has  been  twice  in  Vermont,  where  likewife  the 
putrid  fore  throat  has  carried  off  numbers.  At 
Harrifburg  and  Middletown,  in  this  ftate,  the 
flux  and  a  putrid  fever  have  been  extremely 
deftrudtive,  and  fwept  away,  I  am  credibly  in- 
formed, a  fifteenth  paTt  of  the  inhabitants.  De- 
laware ftate,  particularly  Kent  county,  has  fuffer- 
ed  much  from  fall  fevers,  which  have  produ- 
ced a  very  great  mortality.  And  various  other 
places  have  experienced  a  mortality,  very  un- 
common, and  which,  but  for  the  calamity  of 
Philadelphia  abforbing  public  attention  every- 
where, would  have  created  great  alarms'  and 
uneafinefs. 

Although  the  proceedings  of  many  people  in 
Philadelphia  have  been  ftrongly  tinctured  with 
cruelty,  and  a  total  dereliction  of  every  princi- 
ple of  humanity,  yet  the  general  conduct  has  not 
been  fo  {hocking  as  in  London  during  the 
plague.  In  that  city,when  ahoufe  was  known  t*. 


(      88      ) 

have  an  infected  perfon  in  it,  it  was  fattened  up, 
andaguardplacedatthe  door,  topreventany  one 
from  coming  out,  until  after  a  quarantine  of  40 
days  ;  and  if,  during  that  time,  any  other  was 
infected,  a  new  quarantine  was  impofed.  Thus 
entire  families  fell  facrifices  to  an  order,  equal- 
ly fenfelefs  and  cruel  ;  and  by  thefe  means,  dead 
bodies  lay  often  for  weeks  together  in  the  moit 
dreadful  and  noxious  flate  of  putrefaction. 
Such  odious  orders  exifted  not  in  Philadel- 
phia. However,  there  have  been  various  inftan- 
ces  of  houfes  being  left  to  the  care  of  a  fervant 
or  two,  who- fell  (ick,  and  having  no  means  of 
communicating  their  diftrefTes  to  the  neigh- 
bours, peridied  for  want  of  affiftance. 

I  have  learned  with  great  pleafure,  that  a  few 
Jandlords,  commiferating  the  diftrefles  of  their 
tenants,  have  come  to  the  very  humane  refo- 
lution  of  remitting  the  payment  of  rents  du- 
ring the  prevalence  of  the  diforder.  Were  they 
to  enter  into  refolutions  generally  to  do  the 
fame,  it  would  reflect  honour  on  them.  But  there 
are  fume  whofe  hardened  hearts  know  no  com- 
panion, and  who  will  have  "  the  pound  of 
".  flefti — the    penalty   of  the    bond/'   Indeed, 


(     &9     ) 

when  the  diforder  was  at  the  higheft  flage, 
fome  landlords  feized  the  fmall  property  of 
poor  roomkeepers,  who  were  totally  unable 
to  pay  their  rent.  One  man  wrote  to  the  com- 
mittee, informing  them  that  the  poverty  of  his 
tenants  rendered  it  impoflible  for  them  to 
pay  him  ;  he  therefore  begged  the  commit- 
tee would,  as  they  were  appointed  to  relieve 
the  poor,  pay  the  arrearages  due  him  ! 
Another  perfon,  a  wealthy  widow,  produced 
recommendations  for  fome  poor  roomkeepers, 
her  tenants  ;  and  the  committee  gave  them 
each  a  fmall  fum.  As  foon  as  they  had  received 
it,  flie  feized  the  money  and  their  clothes  ! 

As  I  have  been  obliged  to  note  a  variety 
of  horrid  circumftances,  which  have  a  ten- 
dency to  throw  a  fhade  over  the  human  charac- 
ter, it  is  proper  to  reflect  a  little  light  on  the 
fubjecl,  wherever  juftice  and  truth  will  per- 
mit. Amidft  the  general  defertion  that  prevail- 
ed,  there  were  to  be  found  many  illuurious 
inftances  of  men  and  women,  fome  in  the  mid- 
dle, others  in  the  lower  fpheres  of  life,  who, 
in  the  exercife  of  the  duties,  of  humanity, 
expofed  themfelves  to  dangers,  which  te-xri- 
M 


(    9°    ) 

fied  men,  who  have  hundreds  of  times  faced 
death  without  fear,  in  the  field  of  battle. 
Some  of  them,  alas  !  have  fallen  in  the  good 
caufe  !  But  why  mould  they  be  regretted  !  ne- 
ver could  they  have  fallen  more  glorioufly. 
Foremoft  in  this  noble  groupe  ftands  Jofeph  In- 
fkeep,  a  moft  excellent  man  in  every  of  the  fo» 
cial  relations,  of  citizen,  brother,  hufband,  and 
friend — To  the  fick  and  the  fbrfakeu,  whether 
he  was  acquainted  with  them  or  not,  has  he 
devoted  his  hours,  to  relieve  and  comfort  them 
in  their  tribulation.  Numerous  are  the  inftan- 
ces  of  men  reftored,  by  his  kind  cares  and  at- 
tention, to  their  families  from  the  very  jaws  of 
death. — In  various  cafes  has  he  been  obliged 
to  put  dead  bodies  into  coffins,  when  no  other 
perfon  could  be  had  to  perform  that  office.  An- 
drew Adgate's  merit  in  the  fame  way,  was 
confpicuous,  and  of  the  laft  importance  to  num- 
bers of  diftreffed  creatures,  bereft  of  every 
other  c6mfort.  Of  thofe  worthy  men,  Wilfon, 
and  Tomkins,  I  have  already  fpoken.  The  rev. 
jnr.  Fleming  and  the  rev.  mr.  Winkhaufe, 
cxhaufted  themfelves  by  a  fucceffion  of  labours, 
<lay  and  night,  attending  on  the  fick,  and  mi^ 
niftering  relief  to  their  fpiritual  -and  temporal 


(    9'    ) 

wants.  Of  thofe  who  have  happily  fur  vived  their 
dangers,  and  are  preferved  to  their  fellow  citi- 
zens, I  fhall  mention  a  few.  They  enjoy  the  fu- 
jpreme  reward  of  a  felf-approving  confciencej 
and  I  readily  believe,  that  in  the  moft  fecret 
receffes,  remote  from  the  public  eye,  they  would 
have   done  the  fame.   But   next  to  the   fenfe 
of  having    done    well,     is   the     approbation 
of  our  friends  and  fellow  men ;  and  when  the 
debt  is  great,  and  the  only  payment  that  can  be 
made  is  applaufe,  it  is  furely  theworfl  fpecies  of 
avarice,  to  withhold  it.  We  are  always  ready,  too 
ready  to  beftow  cenfure — and,  as   if  anxious 
left  we  mould  not  give  enough,  we  generally 
heap  the  meafure.  When  we  are  fo  folicitous 
to  deter  by  reproach  from  folly,  vice,  and  crime, 
why  not  be  equally  difpofed  to  ftimulate  to  vir- 
tue and  heroifm,  by  freely  beftowing  the  well, 
earned  plaudit?  The    rev.    Henry  Helmuth's 
merits  are  of  the  moft  exalted  kind.  His  whole 
time,  during  the  prevalence   of  the  diforder, 
was  fpent  in  the  performance  of  the  works  of 
mercy,  vifiting  and  relieving  the  fick,  comfort- 
ing the  afHicted,   and  feeding  the  hungry.  Of 
his  congregation,  fome  hundreds  have  paid  the 
laftdebt  to  nature,  fince  the  malignant  fever 


(     9*     ) 

began  ;  and,  I  believe,  he  attended  nearly  the 
whole  of  them.  To   fo  many  dangers  was  he 
expofed,  that  he  ftands  a  living  miracle  of  pre- 
fervation.  The  rev.  C.  V.  Keating  and  the  rev. 
mr.  Uftick  have  been  in  the  fame   career,  and 
performed  their  duties  to  the  fick  with  equal 
fidelity,  and  with  equal  danger.  The  venerable 
eld  citizen,  Samuel   Robefen,  has  been  like  a 
good  angel,  indefatigably  performing,  in  families 
where  there  was  not  one  perfon  able,  to  ■  help 
another,  even  the  menial  offices  of  the  kitchen, 
in  every  part  of  his  neighbourhood.  John  Con- 
nelly has  fpent  hours  befide  the  fick,  when  their 
own  wives  and  children  had  abandoned  them. 
Twice  did  he  catch  the  diforder— twice  was  he 
on  the  brink  of  the  grave,  which  was  yawning 
to  receive  him — yet,  unappalled   by  the  immi- 
nent danger  he  had  efcaped,  he  again  returned 
to.  the  charge.  I  feel  myfelf  affected  at  this  part 
of  my  fubjecr,  with  emotions,  in  which  I  hope 
my  reader  will  participate.  And,  as  a  human 
being,  I  rejoice  that  it  has  fallen  to  my  lot,    to 
be  a  witnefs  and  recorder  of  a  magnanimity 
which  would  alone  be  fufficient    to  refcue  the 
character  of  man  from  obloquy  and  reproach. 


(    93    ) 

Shall  I  be  pardoned  tor  palling  a  cenfure  on 
thole,  whole  miltaken  zeal  led  them,  during  the 
molt  dreadful  ilages  of  this   calamity,  to  croud 
fome  of  our  churches,  and  aid  this  frightful  ene- 
my in  his  work  of  deftruction  ?  who,  fearful 
left  their  prayers  and  adoration  at  home  would 
not  find  acceptance  before  the  Deity,  reforted 
to  churches    filled   with  bodies  of  contagious 
air,  where,   with  every    breath,   they    inhaled 
noxious    miafmata  ?    To    this    lingle     caufe  I 
am  bold  in  afcribing  a  large  proportion  of  the 
mortality — And  it    is  remarkable,    that    thole 
congregations,  whofe   places   of  worlhip  were 
moft  crouded,  have  fuffered  the  moll  dreadful- 
ly.   Will  men  never  acquire  wifdom  ?  Are  we 
yet  to  learn  that  the  Almighty  architect  of  the 
heavens  and  the  earth  does  not  require  "  tem- 
"  pies  made  with  men's  hands  r"    that  going  to 
a  place  of  worlhip,   againlt  the  great  law  of  felf 
prefervation,  implanted  in  indelible  characters 
by  his  divine  hand,  on  the  brealt  of  every  one 
of  his  creatures,  conltitutes  no  part  of  the  ado- 
ration due  to  the  maker  and  pi  eferver  of  man-' 
kind  ?  That  a   "  meek  and  humble  heart"  is 
the  temple  wherein  he  delights  to  be  worlhip- 
ped  ?  I  hope  not — I  hope  the  awful  leffon  fome 


I     94      ) 

of  our  congregations  hold  forth  on  this  fubjec% 
by  a  mortality  out  of  all  proportion  to  their 
numbers,  will  ferve  as  a  memento  at  all  future 
times,  in  the  like  critical  emergencies ! 

Of  the  number  of  citizens  who  fled  away,  it 
is  difficult  to  form  any  accurate  eftimate.  In 
the  city,  from  Vine  to  South  ftreet,  which  has 
been  furveyed  by  a  man  employed  by  the  com- 
mittee, of  21,000  inhabitants,  the  number  of 
abfent  people  is  dated  to  be  8600.  But  as  this 
bufinefs  was  feveral  weeks  performing,  con- 
fiderable  variations  mud  neceffarily  have  taken 
place.  The  emigration  was  not  finifhed  in  thofe 
ftreets  examined  in  the  early  part  of  his  pro- 
grefs, — and  towards  the  latter  part,  the  immi- 
gration had  been  already  confiderable.  Allow- 
ing one  to  balance  the  other,  and  the  remo- 
vals in  the  liberties  to  have  been  equal  to  thofc 
in  the  city,  we  (hall  probably  nor  err  much 
when  we  eftimate  the  number  who  left  the  city  at 
about  17,000.  This  is  not  Co  many  as  I  fuppofed 
when  I  laft  wrote  on  the  fubjedl*,  at  which  time 

NOTE. 
*  Independent  Gazetteer,    Ortober  af. 


(    95    ) 

I  eftimated  them  at  23,000.  Which  of  the  two 
is  accurate,  or  whether  either  of  them  is  fo,  I 
leave  the  reader  to  determine. 

Some  of  thofe  who  remained  in  the  city, 
have,  for  reafons  not  very  eafy  to  juftify,  been 
in  the  habit  of  reproaching  thofe  who  fled, 
with  criminality,  as  deferters,  who  abandoned 
their  poftsf.  I  believe,  on  the  contrary,  that 
as  the  nature  of  our  government  did  not  al- 
low the  arbitrary  meafures  to  be  purfued,  which, 
in  defpotic  countries  would  probably  have  ex- 
tinguished the  diforder  at  an  early  period 
—it  was  the  duty  of  every  perfon  to  avoid  the 
danger,  whofe  circumfiances  and  fituation  al- 
lowed it.  The  effects   of  the  defertion  were, 

note. 

f  If  they  were  even  guilty  of  a  crime,  it  brought  its  owr. 
punifhment ;  ns  I  am  fully  convinced  that  thofe  who 
were  abfent,  and  a  prey  to  the  anxiety  caufed  by  the 
frightful  reports  current,  fufFered  more  than  thofe  who 
remained.  I  fpeak  from  experience.  In  a  few  days  abfence, 
when  the  diforder  had  not  reached  its  fummit,  I  heard 
more  terrific  accounts  of  it,  than  in  as  many  weeks  in 
Philadelphia,  when  it  raged  moft  violently,  and  carried 
off  from  eighty  t«  a  hundred  daily 


(     96     ) 

moreover,  faliitary*.  The  fphere  of  action  of  the 
diforder  was  diminished.  Two  or  three  empty 
houfes  arrefted  the  difeafe  in  its  progrefs,  as  it 
was  flowly,  but  furely  travelling  through  a 
ftreet,  and  probably  refcued  a  neighbourhood 
from  its  ravages.  We  fhall  lonp-  have  to  mourn 
the  fevere  lofs  our  city  has  felt,  in  being  bereft 
of  fo  many  valuable  citizens :  and  had  the 
17,000  who  retired,  been  in  the  city  during  the 
prevalence  of  the  diforder,  and  loft  as  large  a 
proportion  of  their  number,  as  thofe  did  who  re- 
mained, we  fhould,  inftead  of  4000  dead,  have 
loft  nearly  6000  ;  and  perhaps  had  to  deplore  in 
the  number,  another  Clow,  a  Kay,  a  Lea,  a 
Sims,  a  Dunkin,  a  Strawbridge,  men  of  exten- 
five  bufinefs,  whofe  lofs  will  be  lonp;  felt- — a  Pen- 
nington,  a  Glentworth,  a  Hutchinfon,  a  Sar- 
jeant,  a  Howell,  men  endowed  by  heaven  with 
eminent  abilities — a  Fleming,  a  Graefsl,  a 
Sproat,  men  of  exalted  piety  and  virtue — a  Wil- 

N    O    T    E. 

*  Perhaps  had  all  our  citizens  remained,  we  fhould 
have  had  famine  added  to  our  calamity  ;  whereas  we  had 
plentiful  markets  during  the  whole  time.  The  prices,  too, 
were  in  general  not  far  beyond  what  they  are  ufually  at 
the  fame  feafon  of  the  year. 


(    9?    ) 

Ion,  an  Adgate,  a  Baldwin,  a  Carroll,  a  Tom- 
kins,  citizens  of  moft  eftimable  chara&ers.  Let 
thofe,  then,  who  have  remained,  regard  their 
long-abfent  friends,  as  if  preferved  from  death 
by  their  flight,  and  rejoice  at  their  return  in 
health  and  fafety — let  thofe  who  have  been  ab- 
fent,  acknowledge  the  exertions  of  thofe  who 
maintained  their  ground.  Let  us  all  unite  in 
the  utmoft  vigilance  to  prevent  the  return  of 
this  fell  deftroyer,  by  the  moft  fcrupulous  at- 
tention to  cleanfing  and  purifying  our  fcourged 
city — and  let  us  join  in  thankfgiving  to  that  Su- 
preme Being,  who  has,  in  his  own  time,  flay- 
ed the  avenging  ftorm,  ready  to  devour  us, 
after  it  had  laughed  to  fcorn  all  human  efforts. 

I  omitted  to  inform  the  reader  in  the  proper 

place,  that  dr.  Deveze  and  dr.  Benjamin  Duf- 

field  have  gratuitoufly   and   with  the   utmoft 

punctuality,  attended  at  Bufhhill  hofpital  nearly 

from  the  organization  of  the  committee  to  the 

prefent  time. 

N 


(    9»     ) 

Committee  for  relieving  the  feck  and  diflreJJ'ei, 
appointed  by  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Phi- 
ladelphia, fummoned  by  advertifement  in  the 
public  papers,  Sept.  13,  1793. 

Prefident, 

MATTHEW  CLARKSON. 

Secretary, 

CALEB    LOWNES. 

Treafurer. 

THOMAS    WISTAR. 

Managers  of  Bujhhill  hofpital, 

STEPHEN    GIRARD.      PETER  HELM. 

Orphan  committee. 

ISRAEL    ISRAEL.  JAMES  KERR. 

JOHN   LETCHWORTH.   J.  SHARSWOOD. 

Committee  of  diftribution. 

ISRAEL    ISRAEL.  JAMES  KERR. 

JOHN  HAWORTH.  JACOB   WITMAN. 

JAMES    SWAINE.  J.  LETCHWORTH. 

MATHEW  CAREY.  J.  SHARSWOOD. 

THOMAS  SAVERY.  SAMUEL   BENGE. 


(    99    ) 

Supcrintendant  of  the  burials  of  the  dead,    and 
removal  of  tbefick. 

SAMUEL    BENGE. 

Dijlributor  of  fupplies. 

HENRY   DEFOREST. 

Committee  of  accounts. 

JAMES  SHARSWOOD.    JOHN  CONNELLY 

Committee  on  the  publication  of  letters, 

CALEB  LOWNES.  MATHEW  CAREY. 

Decenfed  members. 

A.  ADGATE.  DANIEL  OFFLEY. 

J.  D.   SARGEANT,  J  O  SEPH  INSKEEP 


(     ioo     ) 

Lift  of  a  few  of  the  inhabitants  of  Philadelphia,  wh* 
have  died  fince  the  jirjl  of  Augufl. 


Andrevj  Adgate, 
Mrs.  Adgate. 
Robert  AlUfon,  Mt.  82. 
fames  Alder. 
Mary  Allen,  Mt.  73. 

Amand, 

'Thomas  P.  Anthony. 
Mrs.  Annan. 
Peter  Ajlon, 
Caleb  Attmore, 
George  Baker. 
Daniel  Baldwin, 
Edward  Barrington, 
J.  J.  De  Barth, 
Cornelius  Barnes  and  two 

fons. 
Adam  Baufch. 
Mary  Berry,  Mt.  J  5. 
Claudius  A.  Bertier, 
Samuel  Bettel. 
Nathaniel  Blodgett. 
Thomas  Boone-, 
Benjamin  Bojlock, 
Andrew    Boshard,    wife, 

and  mother. 
Mr.  Chace, 


Thomas  Carnes. 

David  Clark. 

James  Calbraith,  jun. 

Charles  Carroll. 

Joshua  Creffon, 

Thomas  Clifford. 

Matthew  Conard. 

Frederic  Chriftian. 

Andrew  Clow, 

Thomas  Devonald, 

Elizabeth  Dickinfon, 

John  Davis, 

John  Dunkin, 

Jofeph  Dean, 

F.  X.  Dupont,  F.  Con. 

John  Dickinfon. 

Dr.  John  Dodds. 

Rowland  Evans. 

Mr.  Engle. 

Francis  Finlay, 

Samuel  Fisher. 

David  Flickwir,  and  5  of 

his  family. 
Nicholas  Forsbcrg,  Mt.  jy 
Mrs.  Fergufon. 
Barnabas  Fearis. 


(    .ioi      ) 


David  Franks,, 

Richard  Gardiner. 

Nathaniel  Glover, 

James  Gilchrijt, 

Dr.  P.  S.Glentzvorth, 

Jofeph  Gavcn, 

"John  Gucft,fcn. 

Dr. Graham, 

Jacob  Graff. 

John  Hall, 

Jacob  R.  Howell, 

Jacob  Howell. 

Adam  Hublcv, 

Oliver  C.  Hull. 

Michael  Hay,  wife,  and 
three  children. 

Parry  Hall  and  ftfter-in- 
law. 

Mrs.  Henfman,  daughter, 

fon-in-law,  four  grand 

children,   and   a    maid 

fervant,  all  out  of  one 

houfe. 

Dr.  James  Hutchinfon. 

J.  D.  Hamelin, 

Reuben  Haines,  fen. 

William  Haffcl, 

John  Hockley. 

William  Hays. 

H.  Heathy. 

Richard  Humphreys, 

Jofeph  Infkcep. 


Owen  Jones,  JEt.  84. 
E.  Jones,  Mi.  64, 
Mary  Jones, 
Samuel  Johnfon, 
Robert  John/Ion, 
Mrs.  Keppele. 
Ghrijhphcr  Kv.cher. 
Philip  Kuchcr. 
David  Kay, 
John  H.  Lombaert, 
Catharine  Lcmaigre, 
Dr.  John  Lynn, 
Abraham  Lott, 
Hufon  Langflrcth. 
James  Lap/ley, 
Samuel  Lobdell, 
Jfaac  Lewis. 

Alexander  Lawrence,  fen. 
Alexander  Lawrence,  jwu 
Thomas  Lea, 
Jofeph  Mercier, 
Anna  Mercier, 
Rev.  Dr.  Murray, 
Sufan.  Ali  In  or,  at.  80, 
Abigail  Morris. 
Benjamin  M or  re  11. 
Jacob  Morgan, 
Hannah  Morgan, 
Jfaac  Miller, 
Richard  Mafon, 
Thomas  M'Cormick, 
Abraham  Mafon. 


(       102       ) 


John  Morion, 
Catharine  Mullowney. 
John  Morrifon, 
Elizabeth  Morris, 
Anne  Mullen, 
Peter  Miercken. 
Martin  M'Dermot, 
yohn  Morgan. 
'Thomas  Miller. 
Dr.  yohn  Morris. 
W.  Nicholls,  JEt.  7$. 
John  M'Nair. 
Thomas  O'Hara, 
Daniel  Offiey. 
Ja?nes  Pickering. 
Frederic  Phile, 
Sidney  Paul. 

Air.  Peters  and  two  J "oris. 
Vincent  M.  Pelafi. 
Matthew  Parker, 
Benjamin  Pitfeld, 
Elizabeth  Pratt. 
Samuel  Penn, 
Dr.  John  Pennington. 
Benjamin  Poultney. 
Samuel  Powell, 
Alexander  Penman. 
Robert  Patton, 
George  Rainsford, 
Hannah  Rogers. 
James  Read,  JEt.  y$. 
John  Richardfons 


William  Raj/ton, 
Rachel  Ralfton, 
James  Reid, 
John  Rudolph, 
Jonathan  Shoemaker* 
John  Todd,  fen. 
William  Shipley, 
Fred.  W.  Starman. 
Woodrop  Sims, 
Jofeph  Shoemaker^ 
John  Strawbridgey 
John  Stokes, 
Samuel  Swan. 
Town/end  Speakman. 
Anna  Sewell,  JEt.  6j. 
William  Sellers, 
Jonathan  D.  Sarjeanty 
Rev.  Dr.  Sproat, 
William  Sproat, 
Mary  Sproat, 
Nancy  Sproat. 
Rebecca  Smith, 
Philip  Snyder. 
Charles  Syng  and  wife. 
John  Stuckard,  wife,  and 

daughter. 
Peter  Stuckard,  wife,  and 

daughter. 
John  Todd,jun. 
Jofeph  Tatem, 
Peter  Thomfon,  fen. 
Samuel  Taylor, 


(     I03    ) 


Mr.  Vanhorne. 
John  Wood, 
Charles  Williams, 
James  Worfkall, 
Mrs.  Webjier. 
James  Watkins* 
John  Wharton, 
James  Wilkinfon, 
Eleanor  Watfon, 
Peter  Webber. 


William  Whiiefidc, 
Mrs.  Willet, 
William  Waring, 
Warner  Washington. 
John  Wigton,  and  wife* 
Mary  Willing, 
Jofeph  Whitehead, 
Mr.  Wetherby  and  wife, 
Agnes  Toung. 


Lijl  of  all  the  Burials  in  the  fevered  grave  yards  of  the  city 
and  liberties  of  PhUacklpl.'ni,  as  taken  from  the  Books 
kept  by  Clergymen,  Sextonsf  &C.  from  Avgufl  \Jl  to 
November  i^thy   1793. 

AUGUST. 


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Auguft        _---..  »           325 

September         -.-.._  1442- 

O&ober         -                                    -»        —  c         1993 

November         -        -        -        -        -        -  -         118 

Jews,  returned  in  grofs         -  a 

Baptifts,         Do.             •             -             -             -  -             50 

Methodifts,                -                -             -             -  -              32 

free  Quakers,  Do.  -----         --30. 

German  part  of  St.  Mary's  congregation        -  30 

Total  4031 


R 


("*  Chrift  Church        -  1 73 

Ftoteftant  Epifcopalians  <  St.  Peter's         ...  ic'9 

C  St.  Paul's.             ...  70 

Tirft 73 

Second         _...--  128 

Prefbyterians  1  Third        --        -        -        -        -  107 

1  Aflbciate                      -  I  a 

(_Reformed          -  33 

r  St.  Mary's         -                    -           -  »Jt 

Roman  Catholics  <  German  part  of  do.             -  30 

C  Trinity         ....          -  54 

Friends 373 

Free  Quakers         -        -         Returned  in  grofe.             -  39 

^,             {"Lutherans          .----_  641 

^  Calvinifts         .----.  261 

Moravians         -------r  13 

Swedes         ---»---«.  y_y 

Baptifts            -            -             Returned  in  grofs.             -  50 

Methodifts              -             -             Do.             -              -  3» 

TTniverfalifts'             -  7, 

Jews           -           -         -         -           Do.  % 

Kenfingnn              -  169 

PottcYs  field,  including  the  new  ground          -          -  1334 

403* 


METEOROLOGICAL  OBSERVATIONS, 


made    in     PHILADELPHIA,    by 
DAVID     RITTENHOUSE,    Efquire. 


i 

AUGUST,  179?. 

t 

Barometer. 

Thermometer. 

1            W 

nd. 

W 

eather. 

6   A.  M. 

3  p-  M- 

6  A.  M. 

3    P.   M« 

1  6   A.  M. 

3    P.   M. 

6  A.   M. 

3  p.  M. 

29  95 

30     e 

65 

77 

WNW 

NW 

cloudy, 

fair, 

30      1 

30     1 

63 

81 

NW 

SW 

fair, 

far, 

3°     5 

29  95 

6* 

82 

N 

NNE 

fair, 

fair, 

29  97 

0°       ° 

65 

87 

S 

SW 

fair, 

fair, 

3°     5 

30      1 

-73 

90 

ssw 

SW 

fair, 

fair, 

30     2 

30     0 

77 

87 

sw 

w 

cloudy, 

fair, 

30   12 

30      1 

68 

83 

NW 

w 

fair, 

fair, 

3°     * 

29  95 

69 

86 

SSE 

SSE 

fair,' 

rain, 

29     8 

29  75 

75 

85 

ssw 

SW 

iloudy, 

fair, 

29    9 

29    9 

67 

82 

w 

sw 

fair, 

fair, 

30     0 

30     0 

70 

84 

sw 

wsw 

cloudy, 

cloudy, 

8°     ° 

30     0 

70 

87 

w 

w 

fair, 

fair, 

38     5 

30     0 

7i 

89 

sw 

w 

fair, 

fair, 

30     0 

29  95 

75 

82 

sw 

sw 

fair, 

fain, 

30     0 

30     1 

72 

75 

NNE 

NE 

rain, 

cloudy, 

30     1 

30     i 

70 

83 

NNE 

NE 

fair, 

fair, 

30     1 

30     0 

7i 

86 

SW 

sw 

fair, 

fair, 

30     1 

30     0 

73 

89 

calm 

sw 

fair, 

fair, 

30     1 

30     1 

72 

82 

N 

N 

fair, 

cloudy/ 

30     1 

30     IE 

69 

82 

NNE 

NNE 

fair, 

fair, 

3°  i5 

30    2/ 

62 

83 

N 

NNE 

'air, 

fair, 

3°     3 

3°  3 

63 

86 

NE 

SE 

fair, 

fair, 

3°  25 

3°  *b 

63 

85 

calm 

S 

fair, 

fair, 

30     1 

30     1 

73 

81 

calm 

calm 

cloudy, 

rain, 

30     1 

30     1 

71 

66 

NE 

NE 

rain, 

great  rain,' 

3°  15 

30     i 

59 

69 

NE 

NE 

cloudy, 

cloudy, 

30     2 

S°     s 

65 

73 

NE 

NE 

cloudy, 

cloudy, 

30     2 

30  1* 

67 

80 

s 

calm 

cloudy» 

clearing. 

30  16 

3°  1; 

72 

86 

Calm 

SW 

cloudy, 

fair, 

30     1 

30     1 

74 

87 

calm 

SW 

fair, 

fair, 

30    0 

30    0 

74 

84      1 

sw 

NW     | 

rain, 

fair, 

METEOROLOGICAL    OBSERVATIONS, 

PHILADELPHIA,    SEPTEMBER,!  795. 


3 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 

7 
8 

9 
Jo 
11 
12 
*3 

35 
36 

a9 

20 

21 

22 
S3 

£4 
£5 
26 

«7 
28 

29 

3° 


Barome 
a.  m.  8 

30   o 

e9  75 
80  o 

3°  15 
30  15 

29  97 
3°  ° 

30  1 
30  o 
30  o 
30  1 
29  96 

29  95 

30  o 
30  o 

29  9 

29  8 

3°  3 

3°  4 

3°  3 

30  o 
30  o 
30  1 

30   2 

3°  *5 

29  8 

29  7 

3°  5 
3°  3 
3°  35 


ter. 
p.  M. 

29  3° 

29  8 

3°  J5 

30  1 

29  95 

30  o 
30  1 
30  o 
30  o 
30  o 

29  9 

30  o 
3°  5 
29  97 
29 

29  85 

3°  35 
3°  15 

29  o 

3°  o 

30  1 
30  2  1 
30  o 

29  7 

30  1.5! 
3°  3  I 
3o  3 


6a. 


rmometer. 
m.  3  r .  m. 
71    85 
73    86 
60 


55 
62 

70 

65 
64 
66 

64 
62 

58 

57 
58 

65 

70 

66 
44 
45 
54 
59 
63 
62 

65 

61 

58 
64 

54 
56 
57 


75 
80 

89 

77 
70 
80 
72 
72 
76 
72 

79 
80 
84 
67 

70 
69 
78 
83 
81 

7° 
68 

79 

73 
74 

75 


w 

nds. 

w 

6   A.  M. 

3  p-  M« 

6   A.  M. 

Calm 

SW 

fog, 

SW 

SW 

fair, 

NW 

N 

fair, 

w 

W 

fair, 

SE 

s 

fair, 

WSW 

w 

fair, 

WNVV 

NW 

fair, 

Calm 

Calm 

cloudy, 

SE 

NW 

rain, 

N 

NNE 

fair, 

NNE 

N 

cloudy, 

NW 

NNW 

fair, 

NW 

N 

fair, 

NW 

NW 

fair, 

N 

S 

fair, 

S 

SW 

cloudy, 

N 

N 

cloudy, 

N 

fair, 

Calm 

SW 

fair, 

Calm 

SE 

hazey, 

Calm 

cloudy, 

Calm 

cloudy, 

Calm 

SE 

cloudy, 

NE 

ENE 

cloudy, 

NE 

NE 

cloudy, 

N 

N 

cloudy, 

NW 

NW 

cloudy, 

NW 

NW 

fair, 

NE 

ENE 

cloudy, 

Calm 

SW     j 

foggy, 

Weather. 

3    P.  M, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

cloud' 

cloud' 

fair 

cloudy 

fair, 

cloud 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

cloud 

fair, 

hazey 

fair, 

fair, 

cloudj 

fair 

cloudj 

fair. 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair. 


METEOROLOGICAL   OBSERVATIONS, 

PHILADELPHIA,    OCTOBER,   1793. 


Barometei 

Thermometer. 

7  A.  M. 

2  p. 

M. 

7  A.  M. 

2  r.  M. 

3°  »5 

3° 

5 

64 

80 

29  9 

3° 

5 

70 

72 

30  2 

3° 

»5 

50 

72 

29  75 

29 

7 

59 

72 

30  0 

3° 

1 

58 

66 

3°  3 

3° 

3 

43 

66 

3°  45 

46 

3°  6 

3° 

6 

53 

68 

3°  5 

3° 

4 

53 

70 

30  2 

3° 

2 

49 

74 

30  0 

29 

8.5 

5» 

74 

26  6 

29 

55 

58 

64 

29  s5 

29 

(; 

49 

69 

3©  5 

3° 

0 

52 

76 

29  75 

29 

8 

56 

54 

30  0 

3» 

0 

37 

53 

30  1 

30 

1 

37 

60 

30  1 

3° 

1 

41 

62 

3o  0 

29 

9 

5i 

66 

3o  0 

30 

c 

44 

54 

3o  0 

3° 

2 

49 

59 

2g   6 

29 

5 

51 

65 

29  8 

29 

8 

47 

60 

3o  3 

3° 

4 

36 

59 

3o  4 

3° 

3 

46 

71 

30  2 

3° 

2 

60 

72 

So  3 

3° 

3 

44 

44 

30  2 

30 

1 

34 

37 

29  85 

29 

85 

28 

44 
49 
45  ' 

3o  1 

3° 

j 

28 

3o  15 

3° 

2 

42 

Winds. 


7   A.   M. 

sw 
w 
w 

sw 

N 

NE 
cairn 

N 
NW 

E 

W 
SW 
NW 
SW 
SW 
NNW 
NE 
NW 

N 
NW 

N 
NW 

W 

w 

s 

calm 
NNE 

N 
N  N  W 
calm 
calm 


2  p.   ;■[. 

SW 
NNW 

SW 

W 

N 

W 

N 

NW 

NW 

W 

NW 

NW 

SW 

N 

N 

NE 

NW 

N 

N 

NW 

NW 

W 

NW 

S 

SW 

NNE 

N 

NW 

SW 

NNE 


Weather. 
7A.M.     2  p.  M, 


cloudy, 

cloudy, 

fair, 

cloudy, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

rain, 

fair, 

calm, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

cUudy, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

^air, 


fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

cloudy, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

rain, 

fair, 

fair, 

rain, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 

fa;r, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 


cloudy,  fair,high  w? 


loud} 
cloudy, 
cloudy, 
fair, 

liazy, 
cloudy, 


cloudy, 

cloudy, 

cloudy, 

fair, 

hazy, 

rain, 


METEOROLOGICAL   OBSERVATIONS, 

PHILADELPHIA,     NOVEMBER,    1793. 


Barometer. 

A.  M.  2  P.  M. 

30  1  3°  » 

3°  3  30  25 
30  1  30  o 

29  8  29  9 

3°  *5  3o  1 

29  8  29  65 

29  8  29  8 

29  8  29  8^ 

29  9  29  95 


Thermometer. 

7  A.M.  2 

P.  M 

40 

4» 

32 

49 

43 

56 

55 

67 

5a 

64 

63 

67 

44 

64 

43 

.56 

4* 

64 

Wind. 

A.  M. 

NNE 
NNE 
Calm 

sw 

NE 
S 

Calm 
SSW 
SW 


2     P.   M. 

NE 
NE 
SW 
SW 
NE 
S 

sw 

SW 
SW 


Wearier. 

7    A-  M.       4    P. 
ain,  cloudy 


air, 

loudy, 

loudy, 
rain, 

loudy, 
fair, 
■cair, 
fair. 


fai  . 

cloudy^ 

fair. 

rain 

cloudy, 

fair, 

fair, 

fair, 


AIA 


Date  Due 


Jul! 

■p 

JUL  5     ¥ 

0     ,  •            i 

i 

Form  335— 15M— 7-36— S 

J. 


616.928      C275S  345757 


